Must read Joe Conason column regarding McCain's sellout

[Fla Dem]

Say it ain't so, John
Exploiting John McCain in a new TV commercial signals a new low for the Bush-Cheney campaign -- and, sadly, McCain himself.

July 8, 2004 | For weeks or longer, the Bush-Cheney campaign planned to upstage John Kerry's announcement of his vice-presidential choice by waving the magical image of John McCain, whose crossover appeal had enticed many Democrats into imagining him on their ticket. They knew the Arizona senator would let them use him.

Their new TV commercial, called "First Choice," feeds off the rumor that McCain decided to back Bush-Cheney rather than accept Kerry's offer as vice president. It's a revealing production: Sen. McCain embraces George W. Bush and endorses the president with rhetorical flourishes -- but there is a strangely passive aspect to his presence in this ad. He stands onstage, never facing the camera and addressing voters directly. It is almost as if he isn't really participating, almost as if he knew that this role demeans him.

Characteristically, McCain tried to soften the ad's impact by insisting that he would never attack Kerry or his new running mate, John Edwards. Through a spokesman he went even further, issuing a statement that said he had never been offered the vice presidency by anyone, clearly contradicting the "First Choice" commercial.

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http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2004/07/08/mccain/

[oasis]

1. The ad is a flop. I heard on CNN that it is being replaced. Bush/Cheney

folks have not admitted the ad is a flop, they just want to run a more effective ad.

[napi21]

2. I think if you don't see McCain vocally supporting shrub in the next

few weeks and months, the real answer is that McCain didn't like this ad at all, and it was all "I'm George Bush, and I approved this ad."