Within a few hours of the conclusion of last night’s presidential debate, John McCain had sunk to a new low, by questioning Obama’s ability to lead based only on the respectful, consensus-seeking tone the Democratic candidate struck during the debate. That’s right: bipartisan, maverick Tricky Jim, making fun of bipartisanship. That tears it. John McCain is dead, and I don’t much like Robo-McCain the Republicans have put in his place.
But McCain’s ad (titled “McCain is Right”) is more than just abstractly dishonorable and dissonant with McCain’s one strength (bipartisanship). It’s outright dishonest, highlighting Obama’s initial approval of McCain’s principles (responsibility, an end to earmarks, and fair taxes) without noting that, in each case, Obama noted his approval of McCain’s first principle before taking McCain to task for failing to live up to the same. In short, McCain “quote mined” Obama’s “I agree” moments.
Below, the full excerpts from the transcript, with the portions in McCain’s ad bolded, and Obama’s “but McCain’s wrong” moment in blue. You’ll notice that in two of those cases, the “but he breaks his own rule” part immediately follows Obama’s nominal agreement, meaning the McCain video team had to do some snazzy video editing.
- “Well, I think Senator McCain’s absolutely right that we need more responsibility, but we need it not just when there’s a crisis. I mean, we’ve had years in which the reigning economic ideology has been what’s good for Wall Street, but not what’s good for Main Street. . . . 10 days ago, John said that the fundamentals of the economy are sound.”
- “Well, Senator McCain is absolutely right that the earmarks process has been abused . . . . [b]ut let’s be clear: Earmarks account for $18 billion in last year’s budget. Senator McCain is proposing — and this is a fundamental difference between us — $300 billion in tax cuts to some of the wealthiest corporations and individuals in the country, $300 billion. Now, $18 billion is important; $300 billion is really important.”
- “Now, John mentioned the fact that business taxes on paper are high in this country, and he’s absolutely right. Here’s the problem: There are so many loopholes that have been written into the tax code, oftentimes with support of Senator McCain, that we actually see our businesses pay effectively one of the lowest tax rates in the world.”
At most, Obama can be accused of burying the lead. McCain, on the other hand, has simply opted to continue a campaign based on lies and misinformation. McCain is right? No. McCain is wrong, on so many levels.
No surprise – when you aren’t winning in facts or reality, spin, spin, spin.
Posted by LaPopessa | September 27, 2008, 12:17 pmIs this really any more dishonest than when McCain put out the ads claiming he won the debate before the debate had even happened?
Posted by Narc | September 27, 2008, 12:41 pmI understood the premature victory announcement as a very, very telling mistake, but not an actual attempt to claim credit at that time.
Posted by Ames | September 27, 2008, 1:15 pmEh, I bet it would have gone out nearly regardless of what happened.
Posted by Oneiroi | September 27, 2008, 1:37 pmMaybe Obama needs to quit getting his debate tips from relationship counselors. My wife, who is a social worker, noticed them right about the same moment I did. It’s Counseling 101. Acknowledge the other party’s point, agree that they feel a certain way, and then give your opinion.
You never, ever, ever say “I agree…” in a debate. Period. Obama is a quick study so he’s not likely to do it again, but he brought this round on himself.
Posted by Progressive Conservative | September 27, 2008, 2:48 pm“Earmarks account for $18 billion in last year’s budget. Senator McCain is proposing — and this is a fundamental difference between us — $300 billion in tax cuts to some of the wealthiest corporations and individuals in the country, $300 billion. Now, $18 billion is important; $300 billion is really important.””
Wow Obama, just wow. He thinks that that $300B is the government’s money by right. He really can’t see the difference between limiting runaway taxation power and cutting pork?
Posted by Wow | September 28, 2008, 2:21 amNo PC, he did NOT bring it on himself any more than a victim of a mugging brings it on himself because he walked down the “wrong” street. McCain is the criminal here, not Obama. John McCain died in 2000 with the black baby scam. What we see here is robo-McCain – a creature manufacture by his neo-con Rovian handlers.
Posted by Oldfart | September 28, 2008, 8:35 amActually, concession is a standard debate tactic to take the “wind out of the sails” of an opponent. In reality, I’m certain Obama could quote-mine McCain’s responses as well.
Posted by Ian | September 28, 2008, 10:01 am“Wow” – I think you misunderstand Obama’s point. It isn’t that the two are similar, it’s that the two are different ways of coming to the same outcome: fiscal responsibility.
Posted by Ames | September 28, 2008, 10:20 am