Obama, Axelrod respond to McCain TV ad

[babylonsister]

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/07/30/1234935.aspx

Axelrod responds to McCain TV ad
Posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 3:13 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Andrea Mitchell


Obama senior strategist David Axelrod called into the 1:00 pm MSNBC hour to respond to McCain's latest TV ad. Having watched McCain campaign policy adviser Nancy Pfotenhauer defend it, Axelrod called in and said the latest ad is both "sophomoric" and "negative."

When asked about the ad's attempt to link Obama with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, Axelrod replied, "I think the most important reference in the ad was Britney Spears, because as it said in the statement, she has that song in a paraphrase 'Oops, he did it again!' Sen. McCain has been criticized in papers all over the country -- Factcheck.org -- for the tactics he has taken in the last several weeks, and the ads that he has run including one that blames Barack Obama for the energy crisis and so on."

He continued, "And in the words of USA Today yesterday, it's baloney! And the thing that is sad about it is that Sen. McCain entered this campaign as someone who was going to elevate the debate and talk about the future, and that is the reputation he had. And instead, we get some very familiar tactics. And it makes you wonder who is running the campaign, who is making the decisions, who is behind all of this. This isn't the John McCain we expect."

When told the McCain campaign's charge that it was the Obama camp who ran the first negative ad of the general election -- which was a response to an RNC TV ad hitting Obama -- Axelrod added: "The real point is we have got serious, serious challenges facing this country, including a genuine energy crisis. And we ought to have a real discussion about it. Instead, we get sophomoric, negative ads that are completely false. There are things in that ad that are fundamentally wrong in terms of what Sen. Obama's position is."

*** UPDATE *** Obama just responded outside of Bell's Restaurant in Lebanon, MO: "You know, I don’t pay attention to John McCain’s ads, although I do notice he doesn’t seem to have anything to say very positive about himself. He seems to only be talking about me... You need to ask John McCain what he’s for and not just what he’s against."

Video at link~

[cliffordu]

1. Ca-Ching!!

Treat him like the frustrated little kid that he amounts to.

[ellacott]

5. Yes, that' what you do

You show them who the truly mature candidate is.

[writes3000]

2. Great reply from Obama. "Nothing positive about himself. He only seems to be talking about me." n/t

[livetohike]

3. "Sophomoric" - good adjective and one I couldn't think of

the other day. I like the portrayal of Team McCain as childish and immature. It fits.

[babylonsister]

10. McCrabby/McCranky, just like a spoiled little kid. nt

[nc4bo]

4. Obama's comment is.........PRICELESS!!!

and totally worthy of a

[thereismore]

6. This is all great. But, is this enough? Should Obama hit him on TV with a truthful ad about the

eternal POW?

[babylonsister]

7. Today was the first day back for Obama since his trip. I think he

deserves to decide how to play this. I'm sure there will be ads in the near future, and am happy to see the m$m finally pushing back a bit.

[Cha]

12. babylonsister..thanks for this news on first read!

OT, but have you seen FrenchieCat? I miss her:)

[babylonsister]

15. No, I haven't, and

I miss her, too. I hope she's on a happy, extended summer vacation.

:hi:

[Cha]

17. Yeah, that's what I was thinking, too.. on a Happy

Summer Vacation which I will be taking from August 5th to about the 19th unless there's an internet cafe around the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia.

:hi:

[babylonsister]

18. That sounds nice!

I'm leaving for about 10 days the end of August for Maine and cannot wait! It's so damned hot here, I am drooling at the prospect of some cooler weather! :hi:

[Cha]

22. And, I'm drooling at the prospect of just a change of

scenary and getting away from the job I love but I'm burnt!

Bon Voyage to Maine..so beautiful:hi:

[cliffordu]

13. No NO NO NO. YOU cannot touch John Wayne McCain's POW story, or you lose. Period

Anyone who thinks they can is really deluded as to how big this folklore is, or how important it is in the working class psyche.

I would kill the chance Obama has. Period.

[Windy]

8. That's the way to hit back! nt

[Alter Ego]

9. Obama's response is absolutely perfect.

What's sick about it, though, is it's exactly what Bush used to stomp Kerry with. "Look, you may not like me, but you know where I stand. Where's McCain coming from?"

[Cha]

11. REC'D!! What is john mccain FOR?

We know he's not against LYING but what are his POSITIONS besides little fucking lying attack jackal?

[C_U_L8R]

14. Gobama !

GOP rotten strategies speak volumes about THEM.

[flpoljunkie]

16. McCain's apparently turned his campaign over to Schmidt's Rovian tactics-reeks of desperation!

[Thrill]

25. Well I would like to see what Obama's tactics are. They need to put out an attack ad

[Median Democrat]

19. My Criticism - Beating Around The Bush Too Much

Axelrod is being too clever when he says, "And it makes you wonder who is running the campaign, who is making the decisions, who is behind all of this. This isn't the John McCain we expect."

C'mon just say that McCain has turned over his campaign to Karl Rove's proteges, and it shows. I thought Axelrod's response was fine otherwise, but if you are going to refer to Karl Rove's proteges, then spell it out. In fact, I would note that McCain was victim of, and strongly denounced, Karl Rove's campaign tactics in the 2000 election. So, what does he do? He goes out and hires Karl Rove's proteges.

[flpoljunkie]

20. Yes, name names. Rove's protegee Steve Schmidt is now running McCain's campaign.

[babylonsister]

21. You should write Axelrod; he's been doing such a crappy job

of running Obama's campaign that I'm sure he'd appreciate the advice. :eyes:

They are always several steps ahead; I have faith in them that they're doing what's best at the moment.

[Median Democrat]

23. Can You Read? Where did I say he is doing a crappy job?

Did you miss the part where I said I "thought Axelrod's response was fine otherwise."

C'mon, he opened the door. If he is going to make reference to Rove's proteges, then do it. The way he did it, the only people who understand what he is getting at are political junkies. WE know what he is referring to, but raise it with a non-political junkie, and tell me whether they get the reference. Get some mileage out of it if you are going to throw it out there.

[babylonsister]

26. No, I can't read. Get off your high horse.

Your criticism isn't warranted; people who aren't political junkies DON'T CARE.

[Median Democrat]

27. Again, I Never Said Axelrod Did A Crappy Job.

If you think my criticism is not warranted, then say so as you finally got around to doing so. However, if you are going to misrepresent my position (suggesting that I think Axelrod is doing a crappy job), then expect me to call you out for being dishonest or ignorant.

[ErinBerin84]

24. AND Karl Rove has admitted that he's an "unofficial advisor" to the McCain campaign.

Heh, someone should ask McCain at a town hall meeting what he thinks of Karl Rove being held in contempt.

[Gabi Hayes]

28. at some point the Obama campaign WILL take the gloves off. anybody doubt that?

the only important aspect is, will it be too late?

Dukakis lost a THIRTEEN point lead in less than three weeks of August, 1988. that thirteen point lead became a SIX POINT deficit, as a result of ads like Willie Horton, and others, which painted him into a corner from which he never emerged

think it can't happen again?

[Cha]

29. I know it SUX...

And, fucking 8 years of reagun wasn't enough for this country..they had to have 4 more years of a bush.

Here's the contact for Obama Campaign so those interested can tell them they think it's time to come back stronger.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/contact2