NPR: Business as Usual

Business as Usual

With Gustav petering out over the ArkLaTex, our brief hiatus from political crossfire is officially over.

The Obama campaign jumped back into the fray today with this ad called "Same," hammering home their convention talking point that John McCain and George W. Bush are -- you guessed it! -- the same.

This time we get the Dems' favorite statistic (that McCain has voted with Bush more than 90% of the time) straight from McCain, in the form of a TV interview clip in which he's bragging about his GOP bona fides. It's an effective use of tape -- that stat packs more punch coming from the horse's mouth than it did last week from a raft of Democratic surrogates.

-- Evie Stone

1:49 PM ET | 09- 2-2008 | permalink

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Hasn't Obama voted consistently with his party? And I wouldn't say his party is high on the favorable list. Pelosi and Reid are awfully low on the likeness poll.

Sent by suze | 2:42 PM ET | 09-02-2008

Obama is the most liberal Senator, Biden is 3rd.

http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/

McCain didn't vote for Bush for president:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/05/09/west_wing_actors_confirm_accou.html

Sent by Russell | 3:39 PM ET | 09-02-2008

So whats the big deal?
Obama said that he wanted to make this about issues..these are specific issues!
Why exactly is this considered a negetive ad?

Sent by Rand | 3:40 PM ET | 09-02-2008

I am amazed how politicians have to show how bad the other person is. They should concentrate on what they are going to do for the country. By Obama showing how bad McCain is does not make Obama is better president.

Sent by JA | 3:50 PM ET | 09-02-2008

It isn't about voting with your party, it's about voting with George W. Bush and his (near) historic low approval ratings.

Sent by John Danzer | 3:51 PM ET | 09-02-2008

I love the spritely music in the background! And to "suze", the question is not what Obama has done, but whether or not McCain has shared many of the same views and policies as Bush. John M. himself says he has 90% of the time. So who am I to question such a straight talker?

Sent by Randy | 3:55 PM ET | 09-02-2008

I agree! This is NOT a negative ad. I think NPR is getting a little sensitive. This is the truth about a man's voting record. Even dyed in the wool republicans admit we can't have more of the same, and if takes making John McCain admit it through his own mouth so be it!

Peggy C.

Sent by Peggy Carey | 4:20 PM ET | 09-02-2008

If it's a choice between McCain and his lunatic sidekick who belongs to the Alaskan Independence Party
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2008/09/02/sarah-palin-s-alaskan-independence-party-raises-questions-about-vetting-process.aspx
Even though she uses the word "State" at least 4 times during this speech, Sarah Palin thought it was OK to address the recent convention of the Alaskan Independence Party
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4iCDBIAde8
The Party itself uses the YouTube video on its website.
http://www.akip.org/conv08.html

Joe Biden may be a bit outspoken, some may say he has foot in mouth disease yet at least his stands on issues are with the mainstream and he has some firm knowledge of foreign policy issues. Palin is a maverick all right. A crazy one. What was McCain thinking?

Sent by Paul | 4:23 PM ET | 09-02-2008

A negative ad would be one that calls McCain's military service into doubt, a la Swiftboat, or that attacks him on his treatment of his former wife as she lay in that hospital bed. This ad is just a factual ad, and in my view highly relevant.

Sent by Gita | 4:33 PM ET | 09-02-2008

There is nothing wrong with or bad about voting with your party, but McCain's claim is that he is independent. Many moderates and independents think that McCain is too. In that light it is fair to point out his voting record, which is very right wing.

Sent by Mike Fleissner | 4:49 PM ET | 09-02-2008

I see nothing wrong with this ad. I do not find it negative, just truthful.
Alice

Sent by Alice | 6:26 PM ET | 09-02-2008

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