The Olympic Ad Wars: Obama vs. McCain
By SilentPatriot Tuesday Aug 12, 2008 7:00pmA few weeks ago, it was reported that John McCain would match Barack Obama's $5 million ad buy during the Olympics with a $6 million campaign of his own. Surely McCain wouldn't be dumb enough to sour the uplifting national mood fostered by the Olympics by running a fear-mongering attack ad, right? Wrong.
Here's Obama's positive ad about the direction in which he wants to take America:
And here's McCain's:
Which do you find more effective?
I've seen these ads at least five times each over the past few days. Putting myself in the shoes of your average voter, McCain's ad (by the second viewing or so) comes across as overly offensive and divisive while trying to drive home the exact same point. Obama's positive message is "I want to take the energy policy of this country in a different direction." McCain's negative message is "Obama is a celebrity who can't be trusted to take energy policy in a new direction, which is what I want to do by proposing the same policies as Obama." The McCain campaign must have internals numbers showing the "celebrity" meme gaining some traction. It's going to be interesting to see if McCain's decision to go negative backfires. To rational, level-headed undecideds, it just might.
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"rational, level-headed undecideds"?
The Obama ad is positive and message-driven.
The McCain ad is childish and dumb.
Which means the (most probably Karl Rove inspired) McCain ad will work better, for most people.
Anybody who thinks Obama has this in the bag is mistaken. The Swiftboater's smear "book" on Obama - lies and all - is the NYT #1 best-seller this week.
To rational, level-headed undecideds, it just might.
Yeah, really. If you haven't decided yet, you must really be out to lunch.
OK, McCain sucks.
Is Obama better?
Consider who runs America. Corporations, the FBI, the CIA.
Yeah, McCain sucks. Everyone here knows it.
But what is gained by voting for Obama? A better country? A better planet?
I hope so. But that's not the way I'd bet in Las Vegas.
"The rest of us?"
McCain is a Senator with a multi-millionare wife.
And before that he was an Admirals kid living off daddy and the Navy.
He's never known what it's like to have economic hard times.
Every marketing major will tell you in the business of selling that fear is the number one tool to use in selling crap.
Painting a positive future is the way to sell quality product.
Americans are really good at selling crap and lots of it, and get it to you quickly, and to think we made fun of Japanese product shortly after the WWII.
Antoine de Saint Exupéry quote:
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."
which one drums up the men, and the one that teach them to yearn for the open seas?
paranoia @ 6:
Well, that's more about motivation in general, not exactly fear-mongering?
There goes McMoron again with the "he's a celebrity/superstar/pretty-boy" chant again. He truly is clueless.
JohnnyBravo @ 8:
He doesn't share the views in his ads. He just knows it sells with the public. Rovian "political genius" strikes again.
McCain sending Mr. Lieberman, of Connecticut, and Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, to Georgia.
Whoopie Doo
McPain is just using the old formula,he can't compete on Obama's level
#10 LA - Would it be wrong to pray for a stray 155mm shell...
The Democrats need to grow a dick,they've grown bigger balls,but it'll take a dick to vanquish the Republicans
All of mcsame's ads sound desperate. He's got nothing.
11 Sparky Says: McPain is just using the old formula,he can’t compete on Obama’s level
sad to say but that "old formula" might just work on an ignorant American people.
remember we live in a country that used to say "If you don't vote you can't complain" - now we live in a country that say "If they prevent you from voting you can't complain"
Hmm........one send people scrambling for the work behind the scene while the other inspire a team to achieve greatness into a new frontier.
I think Obama has the following that he has because it was never about him, as he always credited the people for whatever greatness will come. McCain took credit for passing the GI Bill, even though he vote against it. Obama says "you" the people can make a change, instead of being "the one" who can make a change. He only paints a picture and set the goals lofty for "You" the people able to achieve.
Silent Patriot wrote: "Putting myself in the shoes of your average voter..."
Sorry, you'll have to give me some time to quit choking.
To put yourself in the place of "your average voter" you'd have to get a lobotomy.
There is no way that someone who spends significant amounts of time paying attention to politics can erase what he or she knows, fill his or her head with a bunch of untruths, half-truths, and outright fantasies, and respond like an average voter.
The ads are a great example of the difference in the approaches of the two candidates, but if the average voter responded to ads the way you do, Bush would never have been president and McCain would be thirty points behind.
For whatever reason, I've been seeing many more McCain ads than Obama ads out here in L.A., and all of them have been attack ads.
14 MargeAggedon Says: All of mcsame’s ads sound desperate. He’s got nothing.
Nothing but the MSM behind him...I would say he also has the Republican Slime Machine behind him too, but the MSM and the RSM are less then one degree of separation.
Nikola @ 1:
You betcha. Plenty of people are making up their own minds, rather than buying into the shallow talking points emanating from the far left/right, e.g. "McCain equals Bush" and "Obama is a socialist."
PS. Silent Patriot wrote: "To rational, level-headed undecideds, it just might."
Sorry. That's an empty set. Anyone who is rational and level-headed and knows enough to have any opinion at all, wouldn't be undecided.
VietVet8666 @ 4:
better supremes?
20 peaceful easy feeling Says: Nikola @ 1:
“rational, level-headed undecideds”?
You betcha. Plenty of people are making up their own minds, rather than buying into the shallow talking points emanating from the far left/right, e.g. “McCain equals Bush” and “Obama is a socialist.”
I think the point is: if they haven't decided between McCain and Obama, they either don't care or don't think!
@Dahgrostab’ph-r-i :
Here's the problem,McPain can switch to a positive messege down the stretch and gain from it after having trivialised Obama.
Obama has staked his campaign on walking the high road,he'll pay the price if he takes McPain's bait
McCain is just unhappy that he doesn't have the appeal of Obama. If he did, you can bet he wouldn't be saying this kind of crap.
How lame is it that McCain has to go on and on about how having the ability to fire people up is somehow a bad thing? What a twit.
How many undecideds are level-headed and rational?
I wonder if they have created any debate simulators?
What does McSame mean when he says, "for the rest of us, times are tough"??? Isn't this merely a psycological recession?
When I was directed to the McSame site recently, I was greeted by nothing but negative Obama material. It turned me right off. How about putting some positive McSame stuff on your site. Oh, wait, there isn't any. Nevermind.
I've noticed that both men feature Obama in their ads.
This feeds the Corporate Media fiction that there is too much Obama coverage. Since when is popularity a negative in American politics? And the longer the Corporate Media Whores keep pushing this theme, the more cover it gives the McCain attack machine.
Just once I'd like to see a McCain ad that didn't feature lies about Obama or pictures of John McCain as a POW.
The only definitive positions he has staked out are rejected by the majority of Americans.
4 VietVet8666 Says
=========================
I understand what you're saying, but I'll put my money on the man with the positive vision (any time) VS. the angry old fart that wants more GOP cronyism and law-breaking.
There's no other view possible than to agree with your assessment of the two ads as one being positive and the other negative, but McCain's ad scares me and I don't know how many dummies in the country will not jump up and say that Obama is going to raise all our taxes. Taxes are a hot button with the public which the Republicans have always played on. Of course, the McCain ad is all lies: Obama wants to raise taxes on the corporations and top 1% of the country, and I've read that he wants no taxes for senior citizens who receive under a certain level. But I think Obama and the DNC are going to have to put a very effective ad out there calling McCain's lies and play it where and whenever they can.
SilentPatriot, keep these ad comparisons coming. This is a very effective way to show the differences between the two, and their campaigns. Also, when those Repub airheads and perma-grin blondes keep saying that "Obama has never offered a solution" etc. we can stick it in their face. Good stuff!
10 L.A. Confidential Says: McCain sending Mr. Lieberman, of Connecticut, and Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, to Georgia.
Whoopie Doo
==========
Georgia (the country) may seem a faraway and perhaps unknown place to many Americans, but not at all foreign to Senator McCain.
From the website of the US Embassy in Georgia:
U.S. Senate Delegation Led by Senator John McCain Sees “Tremendous Progress” in Georgia
Most people who haven't decided will be swayed by the McCain lying machine. If they have come this far without figuring out what McCain represents, they will swallow the piss he's squirting at them and call it beer. McCain, with his $500 shoes and multiple appearances on shows like SNL calls Obama an "elitist" and a "celebrity" -- and the undecideds say "You know, I think he's got a point." It's because the undecideds -- I'm talking those who aren't sure whether to vote McCain or Obama -- are gullible, dull, and foolish. But their number is legion! :-(
From those ads it seems the only choices are:
Vote for Obama
Don't vote for Obama
Isn’t Jerome Corsi the same man who was caught up in sexual affair with Mark Foley, seriously Google it.
And Mary Joe Matalin, the woman that James Carville said you had to get drunk so you didn’t have to focus on how ugly she was when having sex with her.
And Karl Rove and the never talked about secret relationship with Scooter Libby; have you seen Karl Rove wife.
The Hypocrisy of these Rethuglicans and their private secrete affairs; if they want to write a book that will sale you could start with these three things. The truth is always a greater story than the pack of lies they print.
"To rational, level-headed undecideds, it just might."
As governor Stevens once said: "That's not good enough; we need a majority"
I don't care how offensive the truth is. To win a majority in elections, you must appeal to the simple-minded and short-sighted, for they are the majority. That's why Bush won. Twice.
All they have is negativity and fear.
Listen up McThusela Bloggers, as soon as these two stand side by side it's over. enjoy it until then.
Buh-bye
Its not about which one we think is more effective. Its about which one IS more effective- that is, which one proves to change peoples minds and affect their choice. And the answer is: John McCain's is more effective. Negative ads work. Simple as that. Once again, Obama- and the Democrats- think Americans are smart, willing to shrug off the negative ads, and embrace the high road. Kerry went down that road as well. It's a dead end. It'll be a dead end of Obama as well.
I don't think you put yourself in the shoes of an average American voter. Americans love negative ads! That's why they work!
Let me give you a piece of advice. Beware the instinct to attribute your thoughts and behaviors to anyone other than yourself. Inside-the-Beltway MSM types do it all the time on TV and they are always wrong.
BTW, could you please find and interview a "rational, level-headed undecided"? I would like to know what kind of person they are.
Obama needs to run McCane ( or McWalker) ad in full just in front of an ad that points out all of the Bullshit that McLiar is slinging around about him.
McSlimey has to run attack ads. He has NOTHING to offer this country but four more years of the failed policies that Bush Co. had.
If McDepends wins, do we refer to the White House as the Home.
McCain just switched course and ran a 'postive' ad in the Olympics. In it, he calls himself "The Original Maverick." I laughed out loud. I guess he wants to be a celebrity afterall -- a celebrity with a really cool nickname.
The media frenzy over Jerome Corsi's book "Obama Nation" (Abomination) has begun. Corsi will get more CNN air time than William Cohen, Bill Schneider, Bob Gergen and all the pentagon generals put together. Larry King has him on now. Corsi is just what these folks love. Truth be damned. They'll put him on because he's controversial. All of the opposing talking heads that go on with him will only enable him, and the media will eat it up.
"Jerome, you write in your book..."
Free advertizing and murkins will get only one message. Obama cannot be trusted.
Man that liberal media is so...liberal!
Sam@42
McCain just switched course and ran a ‘postive’ ad in the Olympics. In it, he calls himself “The Original Maverick.” I laughed out loud. I guess he wants to be a celebrity afterall — a celebrity with a really cool nickname.
how about "Mc loven"
uh oh
http://www.towleroad.com/2008/08/mccain-takes-23.html
This is what Obama should be running as an ad
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/taking-back...
I dont like the music in the Obama ad. The more I hear it the worse that one guitar (electric? synthesisor?) tone grates. I hope they keep this in mind. Dont annoy people with sound that may overshadow your message.
Obama '08
Which do I find more effective? Well I find the McCain ad more effective. There I said it. Like Barock Obama I think he's the better man for the job, but that wasn't the question. Negitive ad's work better than postiive ones. The fear of loss is much stronger emotion than the desire for gain period! I'm not making this up, it's documented. The problem is how not to over think things. It's a matter of marketing and sales. The McCain ad is better at selling frightened people that they will lose even more if they elect some good doer that promises them pie in the sky. There is nothing I Barock's ad the causes me to want to take action, it's nice and hopeful but mostly impotent. Unfortunately if your our reading this on Crooks and Liars than I probably share many of your views. So this message is lost to those who really need to hear it. I think I've been thinking about this too much because now me brain hurts. ;) Later gators.
If Obama runs a negative ad, the mainstream press will go into overtime hand-wringing, concern-trolling mode, and make a big issue out of it.
When McCain runs a series of lame, divisive, distraction-based smear ads, nobody says peep. It's become nauseatingly predictable.
Is anyone really surprised? I mean, does anyone think the GOP have anything to offer people?
I'm really tired of McCain the "war hero." He wasn't a hero. He was a bad pilot (more than one crackup before he finally had to pay the price).
And inexperience can be cured -- old age can't.
McCain is stuck in the Cold War. He has no new ideas, just recycled ones. Obama wasn't my first choice, but I'm glad he won.
Americans voters rarely vote for (courage) hope, they usually vote for (fear) failure.
ok @ 49:
So what's wrong with that. The "mainstream press' doesn't decide elections. The masses do. Work the masses! I will concur with you that they (actually television media) are very predictable and I'll add easily manipulated. Use that to your advantage. For now the media spot light is on McCain because to his attention getting negitive ads. So there working for him. Don't bring a knife to a gun fight, if your opponent bring a gun you bring a bigger gun.
mike @ 52:
"Americans voters rarely vote" Could of left it at that, the US has one of the lowest turn outs in the western world, though it still inflicts itself and it's choice of way of life on the rest of the world .......... oh the irony.
Going to be nice to see the country sink into a quagmire and the economy implode.
Might shut a few obese self obsessed a-holes up I suppose.
Oh and yes, typically the vote is manipulated fear opposed to any form of informed vote made by a person using critical thinking.
For that to happen you'd actually need some people in the US who are capable of it.
Next time some smarmy McCain supporter starts the old "celebrity slam" cliche on Obama, just slyly mention that one of your favorite celebrities was Ronald Reagan and see what they do. It could be a head-exploding extravaganza!
Rufus. T. Firefly @ 55:
Wow, that's a good one! I'll make sure to pass that around.
Even if somebody wants to slam Obama for being a celebrity, they have to admit that presidents with celebrity power are actually better at getting things done on the world stage because the heads of other nations WANT to work with them. They would NOT want to be seen dissing someone who is revered by so many, especially by so many around the world. Look at Sarkozy. He's a conservative but he received Obama warmly during his "world tour" because he knows that most of the French public, and the Europe public, loves him.
Rufus. T. Firefly @ 57:
"the European public" I meant to say.
I am convinced that Barack Obama is the boogeyman. And I mean Boogeyman 1 not that Boogeyman 2 crap film.
And they have no shame at all. They think this crap is effective and cute, while the entire world watches this McCain smut.
The vast majority of Americans were raised in dysfunctional households.
Divisive and negative is a way of life. It is their comfort zone.
When they see McCain, they instantly relate to him, thus
I present to you, The President Of the United States, John McCain.
The McCain ad is just terrible, the first part seems like an Obama ad. The Obama ad, while not terrible, reminds me of a car ad.
Are you people nuts? Have you not been paying attention the last 2 elections? The Amerikan people are idiots. They react only to gut level bullspit. I will not send another $ to Obama until I see an ad that reaches up and punches McLame right in the chops. Not one single $!!!! All the talk of the "issues" doesn't matter. Until we as a party grow a spine we are destined to lose. Our only hope is veto proof majorities in the House and Senate. And only if they grow a pair.
Sorry folks, I am just a little PO's at the DNC not learning from previous mistakes. That is the definition of stupidity or insanity...you choose!
The McSame campaign is so obessessed with Obama is it sickening. McSame neve tells us what he stands for, what part he played in wrecking the economy, or what needs to be done to correct the wrongs of his party that he voted along party lines 95% of the time. All he can do is tell us that we should be afraid of Obama. I am afraid of McSame and the Greedy Oil Party that has put us in this situation.
I'm amazed to see so many people who are either undecided or can think to vote for McCain. After 7 years of Bush lying to the people, not listening to experts, not using diplomacy, losing respect for America abroad, getting us into a senseless war which is costing lives, not to mention the deficit which stands at $9,581,766,120,814.86. The National Debt is increasing an average of $1.79 billion per day since Sept. 28, 2007. Isn't it time to change course and elect a man who will listen to the people, the experts, and use diplomacy to solve problems? The McCain Ads are putting fear into the minds of people about raising taxes. It is not the poor and middle-class he will increase taxes for, but the wealthy and the oil companies who have not paid their share. If you want another 4 years of Bush, vote for McCain and if you want change and hope vote for Obama.
there is a reason why mccain's neg ads shouldnt work
they are based on...."things are bad now"
well, they are bad now because of repug policy
i really hope that people are intellligent enuf to understand this
Notice Obama is looking to the (screen) left while McCain looks to the (screen) right...
Oh those ad guys are sneaky
The ad might be effective with low-info voters, but it won't be really resonate.
The Tax thing would scare some people, but the Obama camp is hitting back so it's not like McCain's going to see a rise out that.
People thing Obama is 'strange' and McCain is 'Bush 2'. Just look at the electoral college polls- they'll take strange over Bush 2. Maybe not in the numbers we like, but certainly in high enough numbers.
To quote my 80 year old Dad.
" That Mc Cain looks like a real dummy to me. I dont trust him"
my vote is for the mc cain ad
americans are looking for an excuse not to vote for a black guy
this is america fear works
negative ads will bring down obama
soon a white woman blonde of course will be doing an ad for 527 repub group
most white males will line up to vote for mc war p..... envy thing
this is a country that argues over if the surge is working for an illegal war
mc war is a shoe in with a national war mongering mentality like that
americans like winners mc war promises them a win brillant move
americans would kill every iraqi man woman and child to win that war
they would have killed every vietnamese to win that war
the only reason for protest in that war was the draft
mc war wants to bomb iran perfect move
americans love shock and awe fireworks
had to happen due to capitalism must self destruct karma demands it
I haven't seen it dozens of times (don't have a television) but McCain's ad is very effective. Raising taxes on the corner florist shop, and people making $42K? Very scary! The people would rather hear anything else, would rather hear that we are going to borrow more billions from China, than this. They won't take the time and effort to research these claims.
If you're a well-intentioned, decent, well-informed American, it's a very dangerous thing to "put yourself in the mind of the average voter", because you can't, and if you think you can, you'll make all kinds of bad assumptions about the eventual decisions of the "average voter".
Repetition sticks. When they get in the booth, your "average" angry American voter will probably be reminded of the negative attacks, and will probably not remember a single positive Obama ad.
Their entire determinative thought process will probably take place right in that booth. Scary stuff.
Should we expect anything else from the party of blood, death, war and fear ?
There's nothing positive about the GOP, they rely on hatred and ignorance to make up their constituents.
Their mass extinction cannot come fast enough.
This elitist/celebrity crap needs to be addressed. Why don’t they show/talk about McMega Rich’s 8 homes, with photos? What about his private plane that he, by way of his wife, flies around in every day? What about his casino trips where he plays craps for 8 hours at a time. What about $600 loafers? They talk and talk about Obama being an elitist, how about some comparison here?
And about this energy thing. Obama needs to shout it out about his energy plan (which he has been doing effectively by the way) but then compare/ask why McOld man in the Senate has done nothing about solving this energy crisis for almost 30 years? I know this but Joe Sixpack and Betty Winebox don’t realize he was part of the Republican scam artist that took Carter’s energy plan and tossed it in the trash can. If Carter’s plan would have been implemented we would not be in this mess today and McShame was part of the reason it was not implemented and thrown away. And McSame’s plan today is more of the same. Middle America is not getting this. I know it and the people who read this site know it but it is middle America that needs to have it shoved down their throat. Damn it!
It's STILL the economy, stupid!
mccain loses me a couple lines in when his narrator says "for the rest of us times are tough."
wha?
how is mccain any part of the "us" for whom times are tough? somebody? anybody?
the only "us" he is a part of for whom times are tough is the republican party.
social democrat @ 72:
Effective at sowing fear and doubt about Obama? - maybe.
Effective at getting people to vote for McCain? - I'm not so sure.
"It’s going to be interesting to see if McCain’s decision to go negative backfires."
Unfortunately it's seems to have worked for at least the last two elections. Add the negative campaign ads making Obama seem unpatriotic, celebrity, etc and now Corsi's new book..let's face it, Americans, when pounded by this negative stuff, even if untrue, if the media goes along with it, America will buy it.
I don't know what the answer is, the last time the Democrats took the high road with John Kerry, they got slapped. I'm not so sure Obama attacking back is the way to go either. The proverbial rock and a hard place.
Painful taxes? Oh you mean use "painfull" tax revenue to fund government programs and services? That's just silly, just print more money or borrow more from China!
-John McTrollop
Never underestimate the stupidity of the American people, negative works.
Forget the Olymopc ads, forget McCain vs Obama and get into the Olympics. There's a lot of fun to be had. Follow my link to "If It's Good Enough For Madonna, It's Good Enough For The Olympics" and find out for yourselves.
I keep thinking that most celebrities are celebrities because they do their jobs really, really well. Sometimes being a celebrity indicates you kick ass....whereas whining about someone else being a celebrity always smacks of petty jealousy.
Alexdem @ 79:
One word
Yes!
Because I am a repairman I get to speak to many random people, I feel have a unique insight into the minds of some people who support McCain. So far I’ve asked five people who support McMain why they do. (Please understand that these are not my views and I am simply informing you other bloggers’ what is told to me.) Here are the answers, ready? This is a good one…1 The newsman says all Muslim’s are out to get us and because he (Barock) is one I don’t like him. (This is not true) Go figure. Number 2. He is a pacifist. If you go by a strict definition has some truth to it. Phrased another way you could say diplomat. We couldn’t have one of these in the White House. Number 3. McCain is more qualified because he’s a war vet/POW. 4. McCain is more qualified because he’s more old. Number 5. I really wanted Hillary to win. These are silly reasons but that is what is in a few of the minds of the people I talk to. Further more any constructive argument in favor of Mr. Obama falls on def ears. The real challenge is (IMHO) to convince those people why voting for McCain worse than voting for Barock. Speak to the masses; break it down for them so they can understand it. It’s easier to convince people to vote against McCain than for Barock. That my opinion.
obamas ad in indiana is awesome
It's clear to most all well thinking, proud Americans, however we are not going to here anything to that effect from our national media.
With only $85, million dollars to spend and all these sick adds McCain is running, why is he not broke?
I hope that he is being investegated along with this right wing media that I am sure are airing this shit for him, free of charge, yet Obama has to pay.
Mcain does know he isnt President right ? I mean he shouldnt be meddling in foriegn affairs and speaking on behalf of the American people. I knew he had a flyer earlier in the campaign that said President Mcain. But his is carrying his delusion a little to far. There is a reason we didnt vote you in office Mr. Mcain after years of abuse and torture at the hands on the viet cong and thier Russian friends you want us to trust you not to push the button please Sir stand down before you get us all killed.
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