NPR: Sen. McCain Tells N.C. GOP to Dump Anti-Obama Ad

Sen. McCain Tells N.C. GOP to Dump Anti-Obama Ad

Sen. John McCain is not happy. But it's not the Democrats who have provoked his ire. It's the North Carolina Republican party.

Earlier today, the party debuted an ad that attacks Sen. Barack Obama about his relationship with Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Marc Ambinder at theAtlantic.com called it "not blunt, not subtle, not terribly creative, and is misleading in that it suggests that Obama was present for the sermon it shows Rev. Wright delivering. ('God damn America!')."

The target of the ad was not just Obama but Democratic gubernatorial candidates Richard Moore and Beverly Perdue because they have endorsed Obama.

Here is the ad:

But McCain would have none of it.

He sent this letter to Linda Daves, chairwoman of the N.C. GOP party:

Dear Chairman Daves,
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.

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.

John McCain

The RNC has also asked the North Carolina party to dump the ad.

McCain has consistently said that he wants to run a clean campaign, so in some ways it's not surprising. But this is a win-win-win situation for him.

He looks good for sticking to his principles. He draws a distinction between himself and Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is being accused of being too negative. And he ensures that the topic of the ad -- the Obama-Wright connection -- gets more air time.
---
UPDATE: The N.C. GOP has basically told McCain and the RNC to take a hike. The Raleigh News and Observer says that the state party will air the ad, despite the complaints from their Republican colleagues.

"We think this is a legitimate question to ask, and we don't think we're the only ones asking it," said Brent Woodcox, communications director for the state Republican Party. "We feel this is a North Carolina issue."

12:54 PM ET | 04-23-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

It is in moments like these that I can console myself that even if a Republican does win the White House in November, at least he's a (relatively) fundamentally decent one.

Sent by George de Man | 1:10 PM ET | 04-23-2008

I'm certainly not a McCain supporter and desperately hope for a change that will turn our nation around, but sometimes virtue and good character have real life rewards and I hope Senator McCain would have taken the same stance even if it had been a win-lose-lose.

Sent by Bill Hogan | 1:20 PM ET | 04-23-2008

Isn't this one of the oldest tricks in the book? If anything use of a pretty common and obvious tactic makes him look more like a typical Washington game player. And I'm not sure how I feel about NPR posting the video while being fully aware of the potential political motivation. Was a description of the ad not enough?

Sent by Greg | 1:41 PM ET | 04-23-2008

re: "We think this is a legitimate question to ask, and we don't think we're the only ones asking it," said Brent Woodcox....

What is the question being asked?

Sent by JD | 1:50 PM ET | 04-23-2008

Good for John McCain! He is not my candidate, but I can recognize when he is taking the high road. Let's see what Sen. Clinton says.

Sent by Gary | 2:30 PM ET | 04-23-2008

I think it demonstrates that McCain is not in control (and perhaps doesn't care that he isn't) of the right-wing elements of his party, which just shows what will happen if he got elected. He's been pandering to the right for awhile now, while desperately hoping that the media, like NPR, still give him credit for being a noble "maverick" above the fray.

Sent by glenn | 2:42 PM ET | 04-23-2008

For me more important is the economy and American image around the world due to the unjust war and Senator Mccain's stand on these issues. I know he misspoke to stay for 100 years in Iraq. His stance on Anti Obama ad is appreciated but not that important to the nation and hardly bothers a common man.

Sent by anser azim | 2:53 PM ET | 04-23-2008

and what of Hagee, farwell and parsely, robertson these are but a few of the republican religious leaders that have supported the last few republican national candidates. Not to mention the many educational places like bob jones college where bush spoke as he ran for office these should be a talking points.
No, McCain did not sit in the church for 20 years because he changed his religious strips to advance his political aspirations.
Republicans have embraced and invited and welcomed the hate filled spewing of these agents of intolerance for far longer than 20 years

Sent by Daly | 3:27 PM ET | 04-23-2008

If sticking by your principles makes you look good then it's a bonus. Sticking by your principles is reward in itself. It's funny that such cynicism is applied to McCains gesture and not the same towards "The One."

Sent by deek | 3:40 PM ET | 04-23-2008

If anyone really wants to watch or listen to the entire "gd america" or "the chickens coming home to roost" sermons, you may come away with a much different perspective. I actually took the time(about 40 minutes each), and both of these sermons, in my opinion, were brilliant. This is coming from a white, middle-class, midwest, middle- aged,catholic mom of 4. Go to Roland S. Martin at Anderson/Cooper 360'. He is the journalist that reviewed the entire sermons and reported it on this website. But I decided I would have to listen for myself. I decided that I will no longer be spoon fed "info" by the MSM without checking it. Thank God for the internet to find out the truth. I wish others would do the same before judging. I don't think we ever get the whole truth from TV reporters. They won't take the time and viewers want it in short bits.

Sent by Carri | 3:48 PM ET | 04-23-2008

Let them run the AD it doesn't matter. It have been run all over the news anyway. I am not worry about Pastor Wright. unforunately, somebody is not reading and understanding their bible.
Atleast he is fair and is not a cheaper.Obama will be US president GO Obama.

Sent by Luz Doty | 4:02 PM ET | 04-23-2008

Isn't anyone reading into the racial overtones of this ad? North Carolina is a Southern state where the most "extreme" social changes have been for racial equality. It is also a state where "states rights" and "tough on crime" have racial overtones, so I'm pretty sure the NCGOP was intending for people to make the connection to race in this ad. I think McCain made the connection, too, and he should have come out and said it.

Sent by Nathan Graber | 4:23 PM ET | 04-23-2008

I heard nothing "brilliant" in the sermons Carri alludes to and would ask him did he listen to the one two three months ago in which Wright invoked his version of the "4-H club" "Hannity, Hillary, Hobbes, and Haters."

This kind of response and many others I have seen show the willingness of religious people to give anyone with a "Reverend" in front of their name a pass. It is high time the "Reverends" Wright, Robertson, Sharpton, and Jackson are exposed for the moral frauds that they are.

Sent by David | 5:22 PM ET | 04-23-2008

Why would they pull the ad? Hillary has already legitimized their use of these tactics and has carried that water for the GOP herself, in part with the help of Charlie and George.

Sent by Sweetie | 5:28 PM ET | 04-23-2008

What racial overtones "Nathan Graber"? The section of speech they include doesn't reference race at all. It seems to be a condemnation of the concept of america.

Sent by Jody Sol | 6:14 PM ET | 04-23-2008

Not surprised McCain is asking them to stop. Anyway after it has aired.
He McCain has too much baggage he does not want aired.
http://www.usvetdsp.com/mcaindiv.htm

Sent by Christy | 9:15 PM ET | 04-23-2008

I respect John McCain for trying, along with Barack Obama, to run a straightforward campaign about the issues. Too bad hiLIARy couldn't rise to the challenge.

Sent by karen from va | 9:25 PM ET | 04-23-2008

Christy, you've really hit bottom and continue to dig.

Good luck with all that.

Sent by deek | 10:26 AM ET | 04-24-2008

Wow. Karl really *is* on the job.

Amazingly clever ploy. For the price of a fake ad they never intended to run, they get the cable news (who naturally fell for it hook, line, and sinker) to foot the bill (by playing clips of the "ad"), so they get free exposure for their attack, plus their candidate comes out smelling like a rose.

The irony here is that this is the exact same kind of sneak attack Rove helped Bush perform against McCain, when the Republican push-pollers insinuated that McCain's adopted daughter was born out of wedlock. Reportedly, McCain was so enraged that he refused to shake Bush's hand at the debate afterwards - a rarity for McCain.

But hey, it looks like he's at least forgiven Karl.

Sent by Kasreyn | 3:25 PM ET | 04-24-2008

I'm not a fan of John McCain, but respect him for this decision. Has anyone listened to this woman Linda Daves? I'd be embarrassed if she was the head of my state political party.

Sent by Nicole | 5:46 PM ET | 04-24-2008

What exactly is so bad about that ad anyway? I'd really like to know.

Sent by deek | 9:59 AM ET | 04-25-2008

deek:

It's the same criticism I have of Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine". It's the same kind of dishonest editing trick: using an intercut to give a false impression, retaining the ability to deny that you intended to give that impression. That's what so bad about it.

Sent by Kasreyn | 10:46 AM ET | 04-25-2008

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