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McCain Campaign Mocks Obama as Messianic in Web Video

August 01, 2008 2:54 PM

In case you were wondering if Sen. John McCain was going to end the week on a note of substance and the kind of high-minded politics the presumptive GOP nominee said he would like to see in this campaign, a new web video indicates that wasn't in the cards.

A new web video  called "The One" mocks Obama as messianic, using some of Obama's words against him -- some fairly and others unfairly. The ad even juxtaposes Obama with a scene from The Ten Commandments, with Charlton Heston, as Moses, parting the Red Sea.

Let us dissect this, shall we?

Intones the narrator: "It should be known that in 2008 the world will be blessed. They will call him 'The One.'"

"A nation healed, a world repaired," Obama says in his November 2007 speech at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.

"We are the ones we've been waiting for," Obama says, in his Super Duper Tuesday speech in California.

The narrator continues: "And he has anointed himself, ready to carry the burden of The One. To quote Barack, 'I have become a symbol of America returning to our best traditions.'"

As we covered earlier in the week, that quote was actually Obama telling House Democrats that the big crowds and enthusiastic receptions he received in Europe had less to do with him than they had to do with a desire for a new U.S. foreign policy. In a way, it was more a statement of humility than arrogance.

"He can do no wrong," the narrator says.

Cut to an excerpt of CBS's Lara Logan asking Obama, "Do you have any doubts?"

"Never," Obama says, smiling.

"Can you see the light?" asks the narrator.

Obama is then shown in New Hampshire in January saying, "a light beam will shine through -- will light you up -- and you will experience an epiphany -- I have to vote for Barack!"

Obama, it should be noted, was joking.

And the ad omits how Obama started that sentence, "I am going to try to be so persuasive, so that those of you who are still wavering...will suddenly come to the conclusion…"

Says the narrator, "And the world will receive his blessings."

Obama is then shown saying, "This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal," a much-mocked line from his speech in Minneapolis, Minn., the night he secured enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination.

Asks the narrator: "Barack Obama may be 'The One,' but is he ready to lead?"

The John McCain of 2000 would not have run this campaign.

Then again, the John McCain of 2000 lost.

- jpt

UPDATE: ABC News' Bret Hovell reports that McCain senior aide Nicole Wallace says of this web ad, “It was a communication to our supporters, and was a kind of a bookend to a week that we thought was very successful. Our intention to use a little bit of humor. I think campaigns can be mind-numbingly boring and brutal without a little bit of humor, so we’re proud to use a little bit of humor at the end of the week, especially on a Friday. And the more serious point for our supporters is that despite the size of his crowds, his celebrity and fans are nothing to be intimidated by as the underdog campaign. As the underdog campaign, sometimes the crowds aren’t 200,000 strong and roaring, but it’s just a different approach and style and imagery. We’re holding our own, and we’re very pleased with the way things are going and where we are.”

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Source: Dreams from My Father, by Barack Obama, p 80, Aug 1, 1996 - "As I imagined myself following Malcolm X's call" . . . . "that some whites might live beside him as brothers in Islam, seemed to offer some hope of eventual reconciliation, that hope appeared in a distant future, in a far-off land. In the meantime, I looked to see where the people would come from who were willing to work toward this future and populate this new world."

Posted by: pinion65 | Aug 3, 2008 12:48:46 PM


So what is George Bush... could we not have gone anymore to the extreme right.

Americans can not forget the lies, deciet that the republican party has used to get what they want over th elast 8 years.

there was no weapons of mass destruction, there was no reason to put this country trillions in debt...

I have yet to hear much come from McCain that will change the direction of this ocuntry and return America to a country that has some respect in this world.

a vote for McCain will set this country back further then it is now... or do any of you actually believe Bush did a good job ?

Posted by: Pete | Aug 3, 2008 12:48:42 PM

Bottom line

this is not politics... where are the solutions John... where are the ads promoting what you can do for this country...

I don't want to have to listen to this stuff, or even see it in politics. Our country is dying, and your playing games with advertising...

anyone who supports this type of ads in politics is the lowest of the low... the situation this country is in demands a more sobering approach... this is just shameful

Posted by: the Dude | Aug 3, 2008 12:44:02 PM

I have no repsect for republicans and how they chose to run a political campaign.

these ads have absolutly no subtance to them...

The sad thing is they seem to work in influencing the simple minded, and celebrated by a republican machine that doesn't care abuot the lower and middle classes. All they care about is maintaining control, and to continue to protect the wealthy.

I honestly will never vote for republican.

Although I do bleieve we need another political p[arty to accurately represent the majority of Americans... I will stick with the democrats until the fine day... No matter what.

How could anyone vote republican after 8 years of George Bush... of course how could anyone have voted for Ronald Regan... if yuoask me its the republicans who are fixated on celebrities.

Posted by: Daryl | Aug 3, 2008 12:40:06 PM

That is a wonderful ad by McCain! It was right on, just like the coverpage of the New Yorker magazine showing the Obama family in its true light.

Posted by: Joyce | Aug 3, 2008 12:35:07 PM

Barack Obama, if elected will have a free hand with congress to do whatever he wants. Likewise the congress will have a free hand to push through whatever liberal legislation they desire to pass. Our government has already grown to such an enormity that the bureaucracy itself has become a tremendous burden to the taxpayers. Senator Obama wants to grow the government and to increase taxation to support the growth. The growth is to provide for the people. By providing for the people and increasing taxation, productivity and personal accountability suffer. I am an independent. I will vote for John McCain not because of his great leadership abilities, but to prevent further deterioration of our constitution. I encourage all Republicans, all independents, and all conservative Democrats to join together, to vote for America, vote for McCain, to help save our nation from a time when under the leadership of extremist democrats we would move closer to becoming a socialist nation.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | Aug 3, 2008 12:08:16 PM


I guess I too could be having a "little fun" if I could buy 500.00 dollar shoes.
Sheesh, 500.00 could buy me food and gas for a whole month, and maybe a side trip to a thrift shop.

Posted by: D.M. CA | Aug 3, 2008 12:04:26 PM

I really wish people would open their eyes on Obama. He hasn't shown anything, but a smooth talkin flashy dresser. Folks he was totally against off shore drilling, now he is for it. He lies, more than my sister,,, who is psyco, and a habitual liar. Don't just go with the flow. Look at Obama's voting records for yourself. not this guy writing this story. CNN, CBS, FOX, all the news media, want to persuade you to vote for their guy,,,, do your homework yourself as I did. I think you will find, Obama, is not going to help this country. he will raise taxes, he will lose jobs, and with the deficit the way it is, imagine where we will be in 4 years with Obama, not sure of anything. Have you heard Obama speak without a teleprompter? He can't get his facts straight. he will not always have a teleprompter around when meeting with Foreign leaders. He will be a puppet to foreign governments. We will owe the world. We need a strong President. I am not very happy with McCain either, but he is the best of the two. Oh, and by the way, I am a Democrat. Do you homework, vote whats good for the USA, not whats the cool thing to do.

Posted by: jeffincalifornia | Aug 3, 2008 9:23:23 AM

This country is in a SERIOUS crisis, the dollar is at an all time low, the housing market is sinking faster than the Titanic and people are losing their jobs and homes at an alarming rate.

The LAST thing I want from a Presidential candidate is JOKES, I am looking for SERIOUS answers to the REAL PROBLEMS this nation is facing

These types of puerile attempts at levity have no place in a Presidential campaign. John McCain is running for the most important position in this land, not to host a comedy show on television.

Posted by: Epsten | Aug 3, 2008 8:38:30 AM

All Christains and Jews should reject this mockery of "Moses". This is a complete insult to our faith and believe. It shows that McCain could careless about us. He claim to care for isreal but mocks one of our leaders(moses).
A call to all Christains and Jews to rebuke the ad, and never vote for mccain.
Obama 08

Posted by: alusi | Aug 3, 2008 5:31:52 AM

McCain is just like BUSH..Neither one could pour water out of a boot if the instructions we written in big letters on the heel.

Posted by: Repubsout | Aug 3, 2008 2:02:53 AM

Moses was a good man that God chose who led the people. McCain could have crossed the blasphemy line. But let's not forget that red sea of ink in Washington we all want to cross. Notice too that in the vacuum of leadership, Obama is actually working to solve problems while Ace McCain is "having fun."

Posted by: jamesreid | Aug 3, 2008 12:26:46 AM

Obama doesn't like this ad because he is being compared to Moses. While he was God's spokesman, Moses was still only a human. Obama thinks he is the second coming of Jesus Christ. If McCain put out an proclaiming Obama as the Messiah, then Obama would be happy with that one.

Posted by: Melanie | Aug 2, 2008 11:20:50 PM

"America wants a young, vibrant leader of our country like a dying man in the desert wants water."

Yes the chosen one will lead us out of the desert and into the third world.

Posted by: Mack | Aug 2, 2008 11:07:00 PM

"I hope there are more such ads that you and Karl Rove can create so that I'll continue to have an easy time convincing people to support Sen. Obama. Obama 08!!!"

That's the spirit! Keep up a brave face even though defeat is inevitable. We don't need an inexperienced race-baiter for president.

Posted by: Mack | Aug 2, 2008 11:03:09 PM

McCain atheist? Yes he is because christian play with God.

Posted by: gl | Aug 2, 2008 10:55:29 PM


whatever. its an absolute certainty Obama will be the next President. Poor old John is just too old and staid. America wants a young, vibrant leader of our country like a dying man in the desert wants water.

Posted by: jeff m | Aug 2, 2008 10:19:15 PM


whatever. its an absolute certainty Obama will be the next President. Poor old John is just too old and staid. America wants a young, vibrant leader of our country like a dying man in the desert wants water.

Posted by: jeff m | Aug 2, 2008 10:12:49 PM

Bwahahahaha....the Obama supporters are still trying to paint McCain as some anti-bible person....it still isn't working guys. Chrisitians, Jews, others still find the video funny and only insulting to Obama.

Posted by: chattyway | Aug 2, 2008 7:20:48 PM

I bet network and cable news will not be playing this ad continuously. Because they will have to debate is McCain atheist, and why would McCain insult million of people faith for a attack ad.

Posted by: suv2001 | Aug 2, 2008 6:31:49 PM

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