New Republican Ads Hit Obama on Celebrity Factor, Arrogance
July 30, 2008
First, an ad from John McCain’s campaign comparing Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton:
Then the RNC launches an ad mocking Obama’s Berlin speech by parodying what his campaign ads would look like were he trying to win an election in Germany:
What do you guys think? Is this an effective tactic?
We all know that Obama’s not an empty suit, but you’ve got to admit that he’s walked right into this one.
Obama’s Berlin speech was appropriate. He is possibly just a few months away from being the leader of the most powerful nation on Earth, so to suggest there is no place for talking to citizens of the world as he did, is thinking from a time gone by. If he is going to achieve anything internationally, he needs people to work with him around the world.
These attacks on that notion just make me squirm even more about the remote possibility that we’d get McCain instead come January.
Oh, and BTW, many in that crowd and many that have since viewed his speech, were/are Americans, at home and abroad, who can vote for Obama.
Dan:
If these were any other times but the ones we currently face, I would disagree with you. But given how important our standing on the national stage is to this election, I think Senator Obama was justified in giving the speech.
Still, he does tend to operate from a place of confidence so profound that it can be interpreted as arrogance. I don’t think that he’s more arrogant than anyone else who thinks he ought to be president, but I do think that he has a responsibility to see how he’s perceived and work to check that. Displaying humility is a virtue in leadership.
As for the first ad, way to be subtle comparing Obama to FEMALE celebrities. They could have just as easily done George Clooney et al.
As for the second ad, thank you Dan for pointing out what everyone seems to be forgetting: there are many Americans living abroad in Berlin who were at the speech, and, of course, anyone can watch it on TV/YouTube. Also, McCain has already given a speech out of the country: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/07/24/1220326.aspx. I guess Canada doesn’t count, though? Also, ARE THEY FREAKING SERIOUS?!
As for the second ad, are they serious? REALLY?
Sorry about that weird double post on the last sentence. Not sure how I managed that.
I see nothing arrogant about his fact finding mission as a senator and candidate, or his speech.
HAHAHAHAHAH! I just watched these. I love the flashing and techno beat. Frankly, I can’t blame the RNC. What an act of desperation, comparing Obama to Paris and Britney. I suspect they didn’t compare him to George Clooney because he is a rather well liked celebrity, as opposed to a laughing stock.
As for making the speech, he pretty much had to. People are demanding from him by showing up in such numbers. You simply can’t leave them unsatisfied by claiming a need for humility.
http://think.mtv.com/044FDFFFF00989E79001700991131/
Karen:
Why would it have made a difference who they compared him to? Male or female?
Dan:
You’ve been covering politics long enough to know that perception is reality. There is a perception of arrogance around Obama and it’s an natural avenue of attack for McCain. The speech provided easy fodder for that argument.
I’m not saying that Obama shouldn’t have given the speech. I think it demonstrated very well how he’d handle foreign relations as president, and that benefit may outweigh the risk of giving McCain further ammunition on the arrogance front.
But you can’t argue for a second that he didn’t give McCain ammunition by giving that speech.
Ian:
Which came first? Obama scheduled the speech, then 200,000 Germans turned up to hear it. If 200,000 Germans had turned up unprovoked to demand a speech, that would have been not only extraordinary, but it would have been a far less assailable position politically.
You are right of course Teresa, but he had to make a speech somewhere, and where ever it was there was going to be huge crowds. I think McCain should do it too. Europe does matter to the US, and both contenders should go there and make there case for trans atlantic ties. If the a presidential canidate has naturally strong support of european people, he will have muchg support from european leaders, and this translates into good for the American people, something certainly worth considering while choosing for whom to vote.