McCain tells North Carolina to stop anti-Obama ad

[Twerp128]

Originally Posted by Boston Globe

John McCain urged North Carolina Republicans today not to air a TV ad attacking Democrat Barack Obama over his association with his controversial former pastor.

The N.C. Republican Party plans to air the ad, which features a clip of the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. attacking America, and which hits the two Democratic candidates for governor, who will share the May 6 ballot with the Obama and Hillary Clinton, for endorsing Obama.

"They should know better," the narrator says. "He's just too extreme for North Carolina."

In a letter to state party chairwoman Linda Daves, McCain writes, "From the beginning of this election, I have been committed to running a respectful campaign based upon an honest debate about the great issues confronting America today. I expect all state parties to do so as well. The television advertisement you are planning to air degrades our civics and distracts us from the very real differences we have with the Democrats. In the strongest terms, I implore you to not run this advertisement.

The presumptive Republican nominee adds: "This ad does not live up to the very high standards we should hold ourselves to in this campaign. We need to run a campaign that is worthy of the people we seek to serve. There is no doubt that we will draw sharp contrasts with the Democrats on fundamental issues critical to the future course of our country. But we need not engage in political tactics that only seek to divide the American people. Once again, it is imperative that you withdraw this offensive advertisement."

Just one more action that shows McCain's character. It will go largely unnoticed though.

[teeb]

My respect for the man embiggens further.

I think Hillary (in particular) is being particularly negative in this campaign, more so than the other two. And I don't think it's helping a lot.

I'm reminded of a parallel with the Scottish elections (yes, really). The in-power party (Labour) ran a very negative campaign, whilst the SNP (main opposition) ran a positive-based campaign. And you know what? The latter won. Now I know there's a million factors there that affected things other than the campaign tone, but I think it's fair to say that running nothing but negative campaigns isn't really a good thing.


In other election-related news, this really makes me squirm. Although points to McCain and Obama for good puns.

[Lilleput]

McCain knows that anything negative said about Obama will just make him look better, faster, stronger.

[Jacobfox]

I wonder how barack's plan to host 3 on 3 basketball tourneys across Indiana (and play in them) will influence hoosier voters. The man can ball. It's that simple.

[Viper007Bond]

I strongly disagree with many of McCain's political views, but my respect for the man is immense. Kinda crazy (and scary) that for once I don't dislike the republican nominee.

[Scooby5]

Written in such a way he knew it would be leaked/handed to the press..... giving just the glowing response you guys are coming out with.

Not calling you puppets or anything but are you even open to the possibility of a carefully stage managed publicity appeasing campaign from somebody that has nobody to fight with from within his own party? It's all very well being high and mighty when you're already half way home. The D candidates are too busy fighting one another that McCain just needs to sit back for the moment and pick up hte pieces.

I'm not cynical.......... much

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by teeb

In other election-related news, this really makes me squirm. Although points to McCain and Obama for good puns.

"Hi. I'm Hillary Clinton. But tonight, in honor of WWE...you can call me Hil-Rod."



And on the other hand, Obama's silly grin after his (halfway decent) pun endeared me to him more. Jeez, at this rate he could be a closeted Neo-Nazi and I'd still probably end up voting for him.

[jeffy777]

Originally Posted by teeb

In other election-related news, this really makes me squirm. Although points to McCain and Obama for good puns.

You can see them make their entrances to the ring here:
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/33076.html

[phuckingduck]

If McCain doesn't do something stupid like picking Huckadumb for his VP, he stands a very good chance of pulling this off.

I'm very excited to see the race between Obama and McCain. Come on Hilary, do the honorable thing and drop out and lets get the race started.

[tigger]

Originally Posted by Scooby5

Written in such a way he knew it would be leaked/handed to the press..... giving just the glowing response you guys are coming out with.

Of course McCain would want it to be known that he doesn't approve of smear campaigns. That's been his thing for years now. He's smart enough to know that voters, especially after the utter crap we had to put up with from the Republicans (and Democrats, to a lesser extent) over the last 8 years, don't like smear campaigns.

I used to really like McCain, but he continues to move away from his honest reputation and pander towards the Christian right. I'd still take him over just about any other Republican though.

Originally Posted by phuckingduck

I'm very excited to see the race between Obama and McCain. Come on Hilary, do the honorable thing and drop out and lets get the race started.

Wouldn't it be nice if she'd just let it go? No, no I think she wants to just ride her campaign into the ground.

[teeb]

Originally Posted by tigger

Wouldn't it be nice if she'd just let it go? No, no I think she wants to just ride her campaign into the ground.

And the Democrats as a whole; this prolonged fighting between the two doesn't help the Democrats at all.

[tigger]

Originally Posted by teeb

And the Democrats as a whole; this prolonged fighting between the two doesn't help the Democrats at all.

Undoubtedly. I almost edited my original post to say that. She just might be selfish enough to try to take Obama down with her. And while I almost think it would be great fun to have another scary-as-hell old Republican in office (Reagan round 2, anyone? ), I think I'd rather see Obama in there.

[phuckingduck]

Originally Posted by teeb

And the Democrats as a whole; this prolonged fighting between the two doesn't help the Democrats at all.

Yep. Even some Republican blogs are getting concerned, who will the 'enemy' be once her campaign has destroyed the Democrats. It's absurd the length to which she is taking this. Something like 63 more declared superdelegates for Obama and it's impossible for her to win. I'm not a Democrat by any stretch of the imagination, but I really do hope the parties leaders step in and put an end to this. If we're going to have a two party system, it really helps if there's more than one party still working.