McCain's elitist ad
As they have in almost every modern election, the Republicans are trying to characterize their Democratic opponent as an elitist. It will take a bit of magic to make this charge stick against Barack Obama — and possibly more than that following John McCain's latest ad.
Titled "Fan Club" it tries to goof on the gushy-crushy feelings Obama inspires in many supporters. The problem is that the ad does not seem to use actors but everyday Americans. While trying to lampoon Obama's appeal, it ends up making fun of ordinary people. It shines a spotlight on them that says – "look at how stupid they are."
That's not something a man of the people ought to be saying.
J. Peder Zane
J. Peder Zane has been The News & Observer’s Ideas Columnist since 2007. Before that he served for 10 years as the paper’s book review editor and books columnist. His writing has won several national awards, including the Distinguished Writing Award for Commentary from the American Society of Newspaper Editors. He has edited two books published by W.W. Norton, “The Top Ten: Writers Pick Their Favorite Books” (2007), and “Remarkable Reads: 34 Writers and Their Adventures in Reading” (2004).
Comments
McCain
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 15:07 — Anonymous (not verified)The facts about McCain is he is not able to successfully manage or lead his own campaign. How can the American public expect him to successfully lead the USA. Today I received in the mail a "Dear Friend" letter from his campaign staff asking for an Emergency Membership Contribution as a fellow Republican. Well, I changed my voter registration in April 2008 from Republican to Unaffiliated. Today is August 18, 2008. Do the math how out of touch when the staff is relying on records 4 months old. Very scary if McCain gets elected.
Who are you calling a man of the people?
Fri, 08/15/2008 - 11:22 — Anonymous (not verified)Surely not McCain! That doddering old fool has 8 houses and wears $500 shoes. He cheated on his first wife (who was disfigured and disabled in a horrible car accident while he was in 'Nam) with the rodeo queen and beer heiress who has made his political career possible.
McCain has never held a non-government job. He's never filled out a job application or tried to figure out whether to buy groceries or gas.
He's voted with W more than 95% of the time. His much-vaunted foreign policy experience seems to be based a world from 30 years ago. His current ideas are even more radical than W's. He's out of touch, borderline senile and would be a complete disaster as a president.
And his ads are juvenile and offensive. Eff McCain.