When you attempted a comparison between the Obama and McCain ads, you compared different things. You compared the ratio of Obama ads that were "positive" (9 of 10) to the ratio of McCain ads that were "negative" (1 of 3). Different things. And I don't think any ad is definitely all one or the other.

Sent by Howard Brown | 7:40 PM ET | 07-30-2008

Negative attack especially false ones have in the past worked and been cheaper. The media has amplified slanderous ads and ignored issue oriented one.

Will this year be different?

We'll see if this year yet again, we the American people, will let campaign ads based on lies win the day.

We'll see if slander that would be criminal if directed at a private citizen is tolerated as it mutes a candidate who is trying to focus on the issues.

We'll see if we watch detached as if it were a "horse race" the politics of personal destructions blind our fellow Americans to qualities that make the candidate worthy of the office.

Several McCain's ads are false negative attacks. Saying that Obama caused high gas prices when he wasn't on the national scene. Claiming that a meeting with wounded troops that the DOD canceled was canceled by Obama because he couldn't take the press (the press was never going to come).

That he has "Flip Flopped" on dozens of issues: and yet where are the references to the full context of position statements that are contradictory? I have not seen one, yet I see the accusation again and again on in the media and sometimes on NPR!

We have to make it cost more to slander than to tell the truth, by researching the facts and donating to the candidate that is falsely attacked.

Sent by Graham P. | 4:07 AM ET | 07-31-2008

ReMcCain Ad Likens Obama To Britney and Paris by Scott Horsley. What struck me about this story is that it failed to expose the most blatant lie in the new ad: Contrary to what the ad says, Obama does NOT support more foreign oil. Obama's energy policy is very clear that we should shift toward alternative energy in order to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Sent by Brad Goering | 6:12 AM ET | 07-31-2008

Is it possible for McCain to stray more from his "maverick" status as a politician? These attacks simply highlight how much he vacillates, in a John Kerry way, on the qualities that earned him the reputation to begin with. Now I've been a liberal for the majority of my life, but there have been certain republicans that have impressed me by their willingness to abandon the party line when an issue such as Iraq and blatant and extreme abuse of executive power is on the line. John McCain and Arlen Spector were two men who, six years ago, were vehement opponents of the administration. Now it appears that we're truly getting to see how great of a partisan hack John McCain is. He's become incredibly talented at George Bush's technique of taking and astoundingly complex and impacting subject like off shore drilling and turned into an "either your a patriot or you support the terrorists" issue. Boiling down issues to a simple phrase that essentially says Barack Obama wants to tax your gas even more and drive all Americans into bankruptcy is simply an inaccurate portrayal of an important subject.

We need a leader that can not only see the depth of these issues, but one who can effectively communicate that depth to the American public. It's time we move away from a cereal-box brand of politics and dig in with both hands to the real substance of the issues.

Sent by Danny Laesch | 7:08 AM ET | 07-31-2008

Honestly, Obama has flip flopped. Here are some simple ones for the people not paying attention, that can look up. Gun control, government campaign financing, special interest, Cuba embargo, illegal immigration, decriminalization of marijuana.

I this this commercial is slightly negative and partial inaccurate but it is politics, and his point is focusing on his lack of experience. McCain maybe over simplifying the topic in his commercials because the 30 seconds. However if you take the time to read through the issues of both candidates it will be come clear that McCain has a better, clear vision for addressing the issues. Obama, is claiming that he can fix things that are unfixable, and the route he plans to take will only make things worse.

The hype and celebrity status that Obama garners leads me to believe that people have become emotional connected and swept up into a fan-like frenzy, and for to unwilling to disconnect their emotions to look things issue by issue, and see who has the experience to address the issues.

Political Correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical liberal minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end...

Sent by Jeremiah Mauricio | 8:56 AM ET | 07-31-2008

We can see from these ads that McCain, if elected, will keep the status quo of negative republicans in his administration to advise him and manage the various departments of government. Is there no accountability for the pain and loss that the republican administration has dispensed the last 8 years??? After this ad, I donnated more money to Obama to select an administration that will get results. We must have an intelligent team of leaders in charge of our future.

Sent by B Sutton | 12:05 PM ET | 07-31-2008

To the extent that Obama, Hilton and Spears are human beings from Earth, there are no relevant comparisons between the three. McCain cannot have it both ways. Prior to Obama's trip McCain claimed Obama had no international diplomatic experience. After Obama's successful diplomatic excursion McClain compares Obama to dim witted, drug abusing, post adolescent, rich, white females. It's insulting.

Sent by R. Kyle | 1:42 PM ET | 07-31-2008

McCain seems desperate. At first I had respect for him because he said that he was a centrist, and he said that he would run a respectable and positive campaign. Now he and his campaign have run these negative and divisive attack ads. McCain has lost all of my respect.

Sent by J. Hoffman | 4:18 PM ET | 07-31-2008

When you put crabs in a bucket, if one tries to climb out, the others drag him back down. That is the state of modern politics. If someone tries to advance the dialog beyond the status quo, as Obama is doing, the forces of the status quo, as personified by the McCain campaign, try to drag him down. McCain has revealed his true colors as yet another policitican willing to stoop to any low to get elected. For a presidential candidate to denigrate two young women with no connection to politics for his own advantage is disgraceful.

Sent by Kevin I | 9:12 AM ET | 08-01-2008

When confronted with his failure to live up to his promise to run a positive and respectful campaign, McCain should take a page from Britany Spears book and excuse himself by belting out a verse of "Opps, I did it Again!" Honestly, why compare him to Brittany, who, after all, was a big Bush supporter - I guess as a vapid, drug addled and confused losing, she found him sympathetic.

Sent by Mark Gillis | 9:20 AM ET | 08-01-2008