Obama Escalates Maverick War
Jul 31, 202019.9K Shares297.5K Views
The Maverick Warcontinues today. A new Obama campaign ad contends Sen. John McCain *cannot *be a maverick, since he virtually always supports President George W. Bush. It cites a study indicating that McCain votes with Bush more than 90 percent of the time — touted by none other than McCain:
“„The president and I agree on most issues. There was a recent study that showed that I voted with the president over 90 percent of the time.
McCain, speaking in 2003, was apparently referring to Congressional Quarterly’s voting studies. For most of Bush’s term, McCain voted for the White House agenda roughly 90 percent of the time. The only parting of the ways was in 2005, when McCain dropped to 77 percent. The ad then slams McCain for backing unpopular policies — like oil company subsidies, outsourcing benefits and prioritizing tax breaks for the wealthy rather than for the 100 million middle-class households. (As it happens, the commercialcites my columnon McCain’s tax plan to support the point on taxes.)
Yet, in a weak ending, for some reason the ad stops short of saying that McCain is not a maverick. It simply ends with a hanging rhetorical question:
"*The original maverick? Or just more of the same*?" >
Makes you wonder: a sharp attack ad, or just Democrats pulling punches again?
PRODUCTION NOTES: The spot effectively sets an ominous tone, as bursts of TV static interrupt the video of McCain speaking straight to the camera. A rushed score accompanies quick shots of oil rigs, gas tanks and foreign seamstresses, and then the ad pivots to a shot of McCain with President George W. Bush. The close stresses a two-shot with the unpopular White House incumbent, encouraging viewers that a McCain White House would look just like a Bush White House.
Rhyley Carney
Reviewer
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