Nov. 1, 2008

Negative Ads Mark Campaign Season's End

CBS Evening News: Campaign Commercials Distorting Opponents' Records Becoming Commonplace In State, National Races

  • Play CBS Video Video Attack Of The Campaign Ads

    Many voters have complained that the Campaign '08 attack advertisements have turned far too negative, although analysts suggest that they prove to be the most effective. Priya David reports.

  • Blog Campaign Ads

    From uplifting messages to nasty attacks, see the political TV spots meant to sway voters.

  • In The Spotlight Campaign Watch '08

    Check out the latest campaign ads in the race for the White House.

(CBS)  We're coming to the end of another election campaign season that has, like so many before it, become increasingly bitter on the airwaves, reports CBS News correspondent Priya David.

In North Carolina, incumbent Sen. Elizabeth Dole, trailing in the polls to challenger Kay Hagan, blasted Hagan this week for an alleged association with atheists.

"She hid from the cameras, took godless money. What did Hagan promise in return?" the ad questioned, followed by a female voice saying "There is no God."

"This is the toughest, most vicious ad of the 2008 cycle," said Larry Sabato, of the University of Virginia.

Hagan immediately fired back in an ad where she directly addressed the camera, saying Dole's "attacks on my Christian faith are offensive." She followed that up with a defamation lawsuit.

Sabato says the Dole ad recalls a brutal last-minute attack by an earlier North Carolina Republican - Jesse Helms, who ran an ad during his 1990 reelection campaign attacking racial quotas.

"You needed that job, but they had to give it to a minority," Helms' ad stated.

[The Dole ad] isn't on race, but it's on religion and those are two of the great hot buttons of the South," said Sabato.

The negative tone has dominated the presidential race too. A University of Wisconsin study found that last week 63 percent of Obama ads and 79 percent of McCain ads were negative.

One McCain ad, for example, attacked Obama's record on education while in the Illinois State Senate:

"Obama's one accomplishment: legislation to teach comprehensive sex education - to kindergartners."

"Obama didn't sponsor this bill, the bill didn't pass," said Viveca Novak of FactCheck.org. "Ant it also talked about the importance of teaching children about inappropriate advances by adults."

But, according to FactCheck.org, Obama crossed the line into distortion with this radio ad attacking McCain on stem cell research:

"Stem cell research could unlock cures for diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's too. But John McCain has stood in the way."

"It's a very carefully worded ad that leaves the impression that McCain opposes embryonic stem cell research. That is absolutely not true," said Novak.

While voters may complain about all the negativity, expect these ads to continue - because they work. Novak says attack ads sway voters, and that's what campaign commercials are all about.

© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Video and Galleries from CBS Evening News

Add a Comment See all 263 Comments
by jerr11 November 1, 2008 8:51 PM PDT
Here''s a positive message from Sarah Palin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4aHL12vtEM


It''s Sarah Palin responding to French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Hilarious!!

She thought he was hitting on her!!

"Kill two birds with one stone!!" Sarah Palin giggled.

Hinting at some other activities other than hunting?

Shows her true instincts as a former beauty queen!

LOL

Reply to this comment
by mominmaine November 1, 2008 9:05 PM PDT
McBushie''s negative ads are built on manipulation and deception and are completely gutter politics. Obama''s are only in response to these dirty attacks and simply attempt to set the record straight....so they are in essence not really ''negative''. I wish the right-leaning (almost all of it) media would learn to tell the difference. The public already has (oh, except fot the people of below average intelligence who are the Faux news audience...and unfortunately they fall for the lies and may even vote....this is the scary part.
Reply to this comment
by obeight November 1, 2008 9:26 PM PDT
The republican machinery is at it again. Now they want to steal the election from Obama. If we have to make a choice between a candidate who left his crippled wife and bought his freedom from her using his new wifes money and a candidate who left the step half sister of his deadbeat father in poverty (as Foxnews is saying), I guess the latter is a better choice.

obeight
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by deafgolf7 November 1, 2008 11:10 PM PDT
Hey, If you vote McCain or Obama, I want said to you, I''M Deaf, Can I was explain to you, Most Deaf was fear at Most poeple vote for McCain, he will cut taxes for ADA law and help Deaf need go work and most business are not care about ADA Law. I was fear it. So. I was remember DEM party are very care and support keep ADA Law are reason. Not fair hearing ppls have Job. most business not hired for Deaf Ppls in America 90% real fact.
Reply to this comment
by deafgolf7 November 1, 2008 11:18 PM PDT
Hey, Warming If you vote McCain or Obama, I want said to you, I''M Deaf, Can I was explain to you, Most Deaf was fear at Most poeple vote for McCain, he will cut taxes for ADA law and help Deaf need go work and most business are not care about ADA Law. I was fear it. So. I was remember DEM party are very care and support keep ADA Law are reason. Not fair hearing ppls have Job. most business not hired for Deaf Ppls in America 90% real fact.
Reply to this comment
by idnnsg November 1, 2008 11:33 PM PDT
"It''s Sarah Palin responding to French President Nicolas Sarkozy." - jerr11

It''s even more hilarious when you realize that it was a Canadian comedian PRETENDING to be Sarkozy and even though every single name of government leaders they mentioned was FAKE, she was too dumb to realize it. When they told her she was being punked, her staff cut her off before she could say anything more.
Reply to this comment
by idnnsg November 1, 2008 11:52 PM PDT
Every lie xentpro said about Obama truthfully applies to the repugs:

"Hiding the truth is one thing Obama is good at."
How about McCain claiming to be a "war hero" when he revealed secrets to the Viet Cong in exchange for preferred treatment?

"can he communicate without a teleprompter, will he be able to think on his feet when talking with our adversaries as well as our allies?"
Duh! What will Palin do when McCain dies from malignant melanoma? Can SHE "think on her feet"? No! She can barely even read a teleprompter, yu betcha!

"What happened to "freedom of expression" and the right to question without fear of retaliation?"
Ask Bush! His people are the ones who created the "protest zones" where they lock up anyone who might say anything that would upset "the decider"! It was Bush and the Neocons who said anyone who questioned the commander in chief during "a time of war" was a traitor! It was Bush who declared he could lock up ANYONE at ANYTIME-- no trial, no lawyer, and you NEVER get out!

"A government that is big enough to give you everything you want, is also big enough to take everything away."
The current (repuglican) government can''t give me ANYTHING I want, and it''s ALREADY big enough to take everything away!

"Vote as if your life and that of your children and grandchildren, depended on it, because it does!"
True! A vote for McCain is a vote for ETERNAL WAR, and for NEVER-ENDING DEBT. So vote, but not for McCain and his bimbo!
Reply to this comment
by targaray-2009 November 2, 2008 12:47 AM PDT
"Make-Believe" Maverick

John McSame likes to talk about his so-called experience in Washington and how he has been TESTED, but Senator Barack Obama has not been. Well "Lil Johnny" here is your test score - FAILED ...
Reply to this comment
by deafgolf7 November 2, 2008 12:53 AM PDT
Hey, Warming If you vote McCain or Obama, I want said to you, I''''M Deaf, Can I was explain to you, Most Deaf was fear at Most poeple vote for McCain, he will cut taxes for ADA law and help Deaf need go work and most business are not care about ADA Law. I was fear it. So. I was remember DEM party are very care and support keep ADA Law are reason. Not fair hearing ppls have Job. most business not hired for Deaf Ppls in America 90% real fact.

Reply to this comment
by vjenkins13 November 2, 2008 12:55 AM PDT
The Widow''''s Mite

It is both interesting and sad that Obama''''s aunt lives in U.S. government housing and has given sacrificially to her nephew''''s campaign - in $5 increments to the maximum amount allowed. Yet he, in turn, has done nothing for her.

Isn''''t this akin to the story of the Widow''''s mite ... who gave her last penny for someone she believed in on the faith that something good would come of her sacrifice - not just to her, but especially for others?

In the case of Obama''''s aunt, she gave with the expectation of receiving nothing in the material sense. Yet in return she was betrayed by her own love for her own blood with rapatious statements from her beloved nephew: "I didn''''t know that she was an illegal alien" . . . and " of course, the laws of the land should prevail with respect to her deportation."

Yeah. Right.

This man is a liar. This man is an extremist in every sense of the word. Every vote cast for Obama is the same as a bomb being detonated in the booth on November 4. Unfortunately the bomber isn''''t the only one being destroyed. Rather, every bomb detonated attacks the very core of our Democracy.

And while our country is strong enough to survive four years of an Obama presidency, the core has been cracked.

We can fall asleep on the job and not repair it, or we can work 24/7 over the next four years to make it stronger than it has ever been.

It''''s your choice.
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by drsam8 November 2, 2008 12:57 AM PDT
THE COMPANY MCCAIN NOW KEEPS
Now fully operating within the prison walls of his narrow vision, McCain has become incapable of critical thinking and objective self-analysis. They say that you become the company you keep. True indeed! In McCain%u2019s case, he seemed to have become quickly comfortable with rogue operators and was glibly spouting their words of dark rage and division. He can%u2019t even see the contradiction in continuing to call himself a %u201Cmaverick%u201D in such a circumstance. For any one interested in establishing the truth that the %u201Cmaverick%u201D image is old narrative, I suggest they take a casual look at McCain''s inner circle of advisers and handlers. It tells you volumes: Rove protigis, lobbyists, mercenaries, inhuman abstractions with little or no moral qualms, narrow thinkers and selfish individualists who care little about the common good and a broader vision. Can it get any worse?
Reply to this comment
by earthlived November 2, 2008 1:02 AM PST
OBAMA = GIANT WELFARE STATE (paid for by those of us who work)
Reply to this comment
by dremn1 November 2, 2008 1:02 AM PST
What is the over/under on the number of cities that get toarched when Obama wins on Tuesday?

I will set the number at 32

It has happened several times over the years to celebrate sports chanpionships. Some how the jubulance turns to violence. Well this is a celebration building over 200 years and it is going to get ugly.

LA and Detroit, I feel sorry for you because it will be out of control.
Reply to this comment
by ltk01 November 2, 2008 1:03 AM PST
When the truth is revealed about Barrack Hussein Obama, aka, BO, the "liberal, bias media calls that a negative ad", "the truth about Obama is a smear"...the media is with Obama all the way to the bank as he is their "cash cow, big ATM"..BO buys millions of dollars in ads from the media so they love him..BO will spend over $1,000,000,000.00 i.e.,One Billion Dollars with media on ads..BO has spent more to get elected than any other Pres. Candidate in our total history. BO out spends McCain 10 to 1.. Plus alot of BO''s mega bucks come from the Middle East, Syria, Saudi, Iran,China,et al.,etc. Most intelligent voters tell Obama "our White House is not for sale to the highest bidder, NoObama you just can''t buy the Presidency".

McCain/Palin 2008 - God Bless and Save America
Reply to this comment
by deafgolf7 November 2, 2008 1:05 AM PST
PAY ATTENTION ATTENTION..........

Hey, Warming If you vote McCain or Obama, I want said to you, I''''M Deaf, Can I was explain to you, Most Deaf was fear at Most poeple vote for McCain, he will cut taxes for ADA law and help Deaf need go work and most business are not care about ADA Law. I was fear it. So. I was remember DEM party are very care and support keep ADA Law are reason. Not fair hearing ppls have Job. most business not hired for Deaf Ppls in America 90% real fact.

Reply to this comment
by mydogdylan6 November 2, 2008 1:08 AM PST
Most intelligent voters tell Obama "our White House is not for sale to the highest bidder, NoObama you just can''''t buy the Presidency".
---------------
No. He will win because smart voters know he is , by far, the better candidate.

And he will get more votes than any candidate in history.
Reply to this comment
by G H M November 2, 2008 1:10 AM PST
McBush is the guy
that said Medicare is too expensive, want to cut funding.
and it unfair to support Social Security
and do not pass a vet. GI bill and vets benefits
and do not give woman equal pay
and do not give health care for children.
and want to continue the war
and caused the stock market failure
and he''s election team is nothing but Bush people and lobbyist!
McCain is not good for the country!
vote for Obama-Biden and all democrats!
Reply to this comment
by nearl4511 November 2, 2008 1:12 AM PST
Yes, for the mostpart I see the commercials of a Maverick or his steads.

These commercials are negative in a "mavericky" way that takes the high road and is not at ALL base.

Yeah. they''re negatively tasteful. Surprised I haven''t seen one tying Barack directly to Beezlebub.

Reply to this comment
by dremn1 November 2, 2008 1:13 AM PST
mydogdylan6,

Why is he the far better canidate? Because he lied and promised several things he can not deliver?

Why because he will turn our country into the United Socialist States of America?

He was a Senator for 143 days and that qualifies him to be president. I am a republican and would be thrilled if it was Hillary beating McCain. This is really sad for America. Why didn''t Rice run against Obama?
Reply to this comment
by nearl4511 November 2, 2008 1:13 AM PST
Has my comment offended. Another agressive editor of the McCAin leaning?

Reply to this comment
by dremn1 November 2, 2008 1:14 AM PST
jh6379again,

Your game is just begining right? Just sit back and collect that larger welfare check!!!
Reply to this comment
by nearl4511 November 2, 2008 1:15 AM PST
Wait a minute. Your system doesn''t know what to do during Daylight-normal stadanrd time limbo. That''s the problem. I am posting post EDT 2 AM, but It is 1 AM EST!!!
Reply to this comment
by dkhorse1 November 2, 2008 1:17 AM PST
Obama is on a pedestal so high I need the Hubble telescope to see the guy. Will all the idol worshippers be disappointed when he%u2019s elected and world peace doesn%u2019t instantaneously materialize? Or that the poor are not instantly rich, which he would tax by the way.

I do like the fact that late night talk show host will have nothing to joke about though, they have been pushing for Obama so they can%u2019t bi#ch. They can%u2019t criticize him at any time or they are racist, they are going to be desperate and hard up for material for at least 4 years maybe longer (I%u2019d like to NOT hear those clowns for 8 years).

Jesse Jackson and Sharpton will be out of work, after all "the man" will be black. African Americans always had an excuse, which they will lose, so where will the blame fall?

I look forward to Obama just so people will shut up. All those who want him as Pres will be quiet no matter what, good or bad (thank God for the quiet).
Reply to this comment
by dkhorse1 November 2, 2008 1:19 AM PST
Obama is on a pedestal so high I need the Hubble telescope to see the guy. Will all the idol worshippers be disappointed when he%u2019s elected and world peace doesn%u2019t instantaneously materialize? Or that the poor are not instantly rich, which he would tax by the way.

I do like the fact that late night talk show host will have nothing to joke about though, they have been pushing for Obama so they can%u2019t bi#ch. They can%u2019t criticize him at any time or they are racist, they are going to be desperate and hard up for material for at least 4 years maybe longer (I%u2019d like to NOT hear those clowns for 8 years).

Jesse Jackson and Sharpton will be out of work, after all "the man" will be black. African Americans always had an excuse, which they will lose, so where will the blame fall?
Reply to this comment
by jacalhou November 2, 2008 1:22 AM PST
You can''t buy elections, but evidently past history has shown that you can steal them. (2000)
Reply to this comment
by songo2-2009 November 2, 2008 1:23 AM PST
the nightmare will soon be over.....

obama 08
Reply to this comment
by jacalhou November 2, 2008 1:25 AM PST
Good one melchg, that one is hard to argue against.
Reply to this comment
by jacalhou November 2, 2008 1:31 AM PST
You know, I saw a great bumper sticker in Florida a few weeks ago:

"January 20, 2009: The End of an Error"

Glad I early voted for Obama/Biden here in Florida today!!
Reply to this comment
by truth4u2 November 2, 2008 1:43 AM PST
Know the Truth!
You Will be Shocked I GUARANTEE!!
Video from C-Span

Truth ,Who is responsible for the banking crisis? You be the judge.
Watch the whole thing you will be shocked!! hear it straight from Bill Clinton himself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blcC_kCnf8U

Fannie CEO and the Democrats are one big family
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLQU7uNR5bM

Truth on Oil/ Drilling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VobxUtOEM7M

Another on drilling our own oil, This one is pathetic and makes me sick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1teACBS-1cc


You deserve to know the Truth!!!
Reply to this comment
by jacalhou November 2, 2008 1:47 AM PST
Oh well, it was fun, night melchg!
Reply to this comment
by earthlived November 2, 2008 1:59 AM PST
A vote for McCain is a vote for America. A vote for Obama is a vote for America''s enemies.
Reply to this comment
by deafgolf7 November 2, 2008 2:09 AM PST
If I want be any DEAF become US president. I was more LAW to who business. when DEAF apply at new job. if got not hired of DEAF.

I want new rule. if not hired to DEAF ppl. I will make new law "FINE $1,000.00 or hired to DEAF?" without go judge. that Too bad to business. I''m DEAF. I m honest to you. most Deaf got hard find job and never hired in a america 90% fact
Reply to this comment
by pakaal November 2, 2008 2:11 AM PST
"Remember REAL Americans, Who WILL BE CELEBRATING IF OBAMA WINS..."

Yer dam'' right we will! And the ever-diminishing few of you racist imbeciles can sit there and deal with it, because the vast majority of us are tired of your petty lies, distortions and hatred, and are voting for Obama, who is by far the best candidate for the job. God Bless America!
Reply to this comment
by the1stdude-2009 November 2, 2008 2:27 AM PST
Obamasah02 %u2013 Please don%u2019t vote for my wife and the IDIOT opportunist that she is running around with! He has been putting the moves on her when I am out drinking and I think they may have been doin%u2019 the %u2018dirty deed%u2019 when Cindy%u2019s not around! You seem like a real true American %u2018Joe%u2019 and I just felt I had to warn you before you made the mistake of voting for him. Please tell all of your IDIOT friends so they too will know the truth and vote for Obama.

PS You%u2019re a real IGNORANT A$$ aren%u2019t you?
Reply to this comment
by the1stdude-2009 November 2, 2008 2:32 AM PST
Obamasah02 - (Had to clean it up so you could read it)

Please don%u2019t vote for my wife and the IDIOT opportunist that she is running around with! He has been putting the moves on her when I am out drinking and I think they may have been doin'' the ''dirty deed'' when Cindy''s not around! You seem like a real true American ''Joe'' and I just felt I had to warn you before you made the mistake of voting for him. Please tell all of your IDIOT friends so they too will know the truth and vote for Obama.

PS You''re a real IGNORANT A$$ aren''t you?
Reply to this comment
by linda-tx November 2, 2008 2:34 AM PST
McCain will pull off a win. The machines have already been programmed to make sure he wins. Poor democrates are really voting for McCain and don''t know it. Hope they have plenty of kool-aid at his losers party in chicago. Don''t forget the backup is the 5-4 court.
Reply to this comment
by deafgolf7 November 2, 2008 2:36 AM PST


I want told to you, with my explain to you. Most Most America In most business place hired of DEAF People.

Deaf need go work and most business are not care about ADA Law. I was fear it. So. I was remember in long time Rep and DEM party are very care and support keep ADA Law are reason. Not fair hearing ppls have Job. but I was real notice and I am experience most business not hired for Deaf Ppls in America 90% real fact. DEAF and I want got good Job and want dream home with fine.

I m depressed since from business not hired.

Pray for DEAF''s wish
___________________________________________________

If wish any DEAF or I become US president. if not hired to DEAF ppl. I will make new law "FINE $1,000.00 or hired to DEAF?" without go judge. that Too bad to business. I''''m DEAF. but i m silly talk but I would do that.
Reply to this comment
by the1stdude-2009 November 2, 2008 2:36 AM PST
You know what the difference is between "Obamasah02" and a ***?

A *** has balls!
Reply to this comment
by jacalhou November 2, 2008 2:52 AM PST
Obamasah02, I was just wondering, what size white gown and white cone hat do you really wear?? You really are disgusting.
Reply to this comment
by jonathanw20 November 2, 2008 3:12 AM PST
McCain is now running the Jeremiah Wright ads. What a shame.
Reply to this comment
by airboatboy1 November 2, 2008 3:19 AM PST
I''m not voting. But I hope whoever is doesn''t base there vote on the information in these posts. Surely most of this is for your entertainment and you can''t really believe some of the *** you write.
Reply to this comment
by November 2, 2008 3:21 AM PST
Maybe McCain handlers who have set the theme for the entire republican party be fired along with their candidates. Performance and a plan about the economy would have served these clowns better than the road they travel. The "Obama Express" rolls on..........
Reply to this comment
by kaelinda November 2, 2008 3:59 AM PST
For those of you who say you''re not voting - please vote! It''s your right and privilege. This is the first election in a long time where each individual voter in each individual state is really going to matter.
Reply to this comment
by longtree-2009 November 2, 2008 4:26 AM PST
negative Ads increases the responsibilty of News agencies to get the truth out to voters immediately after the Ad is published or broadcast. too many voters believe what they read and hear which is not always the factual truth. negative Ads are a reflection of society as a whole, it is what the majority of people do to one another everywhere.
Reply to this comment
by skeezix06 November 2, 2008 4:38 AM PST
CBS Evening News: Campaign Commercials Distorting Opponents'' Records Becoming Commonplace In State, National Races?

Get real. Go look at newspapers from the late 1800s/early 1900s. They''ve always distorted each other''s records.
Reply to this comment
by woodjd42 November 2, 2008 5:01 AM PST
Instead of talking about rev Wright, why not talk about what the leaders of the sepertist party of alaska advocate? The party that palin is linked to. They advocate the overthrough of the U.S. and talk about how much they hate the U.S.
Reply to this comment
by woodjd42 November 2, 2008 5:15 AM PST
woodjd42

Perhaps you can answer the questions that melch cannot answer. Come on now, give it your best shot:

1.) Do you think it''''s ok for Jeremiah Wright and Father Pfledger to cuss and use profanity behind the pulpit, as they have done? And to say "GD America!" Remember, these 2 people support Obama

2.)What do you have to say about enemies of America like HAMAS supporting Obama?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by SocialismSux

What do you have to say about the enemies of the U.S. such as the seperist party and their support of palin?
Reply to this comment
by torocaca November 2, 2008 5:18 AM PST
It turned out to be true, we over through Hussein in two weeks. The Iraqis did greet us as liberators.

Then our enemies%u2019, the al-Qaeda terrorist came into IRAQ from Afghanistan. Then after we killed 20K al-Qaeda terrorist in IRAQ they are how going back to Afghanistan to try their Luck there. That%u2019s why the war in Afghanistan is ramping up now.
It actually was to our advantage in the war on al-Qaeda terrorism to go into IRAQ
We got the terrorist out in the open. You can%u2019t find SH*T in the Afghanistan Hills.
Posted by doctor-coo1 at 05:00 AM : Nov 02, 2008
----------------------

It doesn''t seem to matter to you that Bush went into Iraq under false pretenses; pretenses that seemed to change with the calendar.

It doesn''t seem to matter to you that the "victory celebration" was short-lived, that Bush''s "uneducated decision" to upset the stability in the middle east throught the entire area into turmoil, bringing "foreigners" into the Iraqi turmoil.

It doesn''t seem to matter to you that, after the "victory celebration" dust settled, Sunnis were fighting Shias, and Sunnis and Shias were fighting and killing Americans.

It doesn''t seem to matter to you that you can''t find ***** in the Afghanistan hills when most of your troops are fighting a sensless and unnecessary war in a country that had absolutely NOTHING to do with 9/11.

It doesn''t seem to matter to you, period. Your chauvinistic defense of Bush/Cheney/McCain has blinded you to the truth.



Reply to this comment
by woodjd42 November 2, 2008 5:38 AM PST
Again you cowardly liberal who hasn''''t served a day of military service in your entire life, it is the ISLAMIC JIHADISTS who preach MURDERING innocent people all around the globe(it''''s called JIHAD), not the UNITED STATES MILITARY

Do yourself a favor and thank a soldier today. Swallow that filthy pride and grow up. Some of us have served, unlike you, big cry baby.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by SocialismSux

I have served in the military and retired and served in Vietnam. And I don''t believe in sending our troops into a war based on lies as the gutless bush/chaney have done (by the way who never served anything but themselves). I did agree on going into Afganastan but bush/chaney blew that. But going into Iraq was not only stupid it was destablizing.
Reply to this comment
by torocaca November 2, 2008 5:39 AM PST
Thank GOD John McCain was looking out for them.-
GOD BLESS OUR SOLDIERS
Obama tried to demoralize our military like Bill Ayers DID.-
Posted by doctor-coo1 at 05:16 AM : Nov 02, 2008
----------------------

It''s a myth that McCain is looking out for our military. While it''s true that he supports them BEING in Iraq, he does not give them the tools needed to get the job done. He has voted against troop funding and also against the GI bill.

On the other hand, McCain says Obama never held a single hearing on Afghanistan. Obama attended a full senate foreign relations committee meeting on Afghanistan, while McCain attended NONE.

According to factcheck.org, Obama voted FOR troop funding at least 10 times, and voted against funding exactly once. That was after Bush vetoed a version that contained a date for withdrawal.

McCain''s ad fails to mention his own record. He urged Bush to veto funding for the troops. He''s the highest ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, but he missed ALL SEVEN of the hearings that his panel held on Afghanistan during the past two years.


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