New Obama Ad Casts McCain As Celebrity

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Advertising

In recent weeks, some Democrats have been criticizing the McCain campaign for its "Celeb" ad and other spots that they suggest hit below the belt.

But now the Obama campaign has released a 30-second ad of its own that takes a similar line to "Celeb," perhaps McCain's most provocative spot. In "Embrace," McCain is dubbed "Washington's biggest celebrity" and shown as a talk show guest and on "Saturday Night Live."

"For decades, he's been Washington's biggest celebrity," an announcer says of McCain. "And as Washington embraced him, John McCain hugged right back." (The logic of this line, spoken as McCain is shown hugging President Bush, is confusing: After all, it is Hollywood, not Washington, that the ad is suggesting embraced McCain.)

"The lobbyists – running his low road campaign," the announcer continues. "The money – billions in tax breaks for oil and drug companies, but almost nothing for families like yours." As this line is spoken, the words "NOTHING FOR YOU" appear onscreen, and McCain is shown enjoying a laugh.

"Lurching to the right, then the left, the old Washington dance, whatever it takes," the announcer says – as Steve Carrell is shown shouting McCain's name on SNL. "John McCain: A Washington celebrity playing the same old Washington games."

CBSNews.com recently ran a story looking at McCain's relative celebrity – you can read it here. "Embrace" will begin running on national cable tomorrow.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by bughtt August 13, 2008 8:42 PM EDT: Mr. Montopoli says Obama is hitting "below the belt" by calling McCain a celebrity, as McCain did to Obama.
But consider the differences between the two ads: McCain puts Obama in a fake proxim ity to two blond women airheads when he was never WITH either of them.
Obama shows actual footage of McCain with Bush and Abramoff and others. He evokes the 27 years McCain HAS been a WA DC celebrity, on talk shows constantly, hobbnobbing with the power elite.
So McCain makes up stuff about Obama, while Obama is documenting reality.; Reply to this comment


by usais11 August 12, 2008 2:13 PM EDT: In the case of Barack Obama, disheartening aspects emerge when one pulls off the rose-colored glasses.
. The depth of knowledge on display in Barry Obama''''s undergraduate thesis is of particular interest because he was wrong about a crucial Kennedy-Khrushchev conference, and about the diplomatic history between America and the Soviets.
How likely is it that someone would lose his senior thesis -- particularly someone who thought his life was compelling enough that he would write an autobiography just a few years later?
Indeed, he has left little in the way of a record for Americans to judge his legal abilities. No written records, no signed legal papers, no research papers authored or co-authored by him. Nothing
Senator Obama often invokes his expertise on constitutional law. Does he actually have any? You can''''t tell from his publications, and he even lacks a record of intellectual engagement as a legal scholar.
One should not have to remind the former President of the Harvard Law review that a President of the United States cannot overturn a law. Only the Supreme Court can overturn a law; Congress can change laws. A President -- even one consumed by his own grandiosity -- cannot "overturn" a law. That is Constitutional Law 101.
He has certainly been wrong about the law and terrorism, and was wrong about the applicability of the Nuremberg trial in terrorism related legal matters; Reply to this comment


by usais11 August 12, 2008 1:21 PM EDT: "Breath of fresh air?" "Much needed change?" Are you all naive or just off the turnip truck? So what if McCain is old- Doesn''t it matter to you that "change" in the wrong direction will be disasterous with an inexperianced unqualified person??- Obama who will raise your taxes- develop a socialistic society based on discriminating the whites! Are you white? Doesn''t that matter to you? It d--- well should. Voting for a "D" ( just because you think it is time for ''change'' is just plain DUMB.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 August 12, 2008 1:06 PM EDT: McCain was all over the Military Action in the former Soviet Georgia. Republicans love war, John McCain (world war I veteran) was acting as if he was the United States President calling for a end to the clash but, in reality like all Republicans were privately doing things to themselves as usual when it comes to war, deaths, and destruction. Republicans want the United States involved, or will continue to provoke military conflict all over the world if John %u201Cthe war Monger%u201D McCain is allowed to be the President of the United States.

Vote McCain VOTE FOR WAR!; Reply to this comment


by usais11 August 12, 2008 10:29 AM EDT: You want enthusiasm go to a football game- The Commander is Chief is not a rock star- that is a pathetic illusion- It would be preferred if people understood the job of a leader is not to be the next Hitler but the next Reformer with experiance. Who gives a s--- if MCCain is ''old''he is MORE QUALIFIED to lead this great nation than Obama with 143 days in the senate. Wake up.; Reply to this comment


by wellhell3 August 11, 2008 10:31 PM EDT: Obscamma continues to stomp his foot like pourty child...always in the face of criticism of his idiotic bad judgment, and Tinkerbelle promises, and whackjob ideology.

How in the world did the democrats choose the WORSE POSSIBLE candidate they had on their slate?

Oh wait, I forgot...they used the old Chicago mafia gang bang style primary process...that''s it!; Reply to this comment


by jsilver2th August 11, 2008 9:49 PM EDT: McCain needs to pick somebody much younger and sexier for his VP candidate- and it wouldn;t hurt if they could stay on track- I would suggest Bob Dole or Ross Perot.; Reply to this comment


by mr2258 August 11, 2008 9:07 PM EDT: Does anyone think Obama ever had a chance to be president---GET REAL...; Reply to this comment


by noloyalisti August 11, 2008 8:21 PM EDT: Awesome!! McCain = Bush. McBush = McSame. Only worse.; Reply to this comment


by misha128-2009 August 11, 2008 8:02 PM EDT: McCain as a celebrity look-alike -- sure how does Charley McCarthy fit with Bush, Cheney and Lieberman taking turns as Edgar Bergen.; Reply to this comment