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In TV Ads, Third-Party Liberal Groups Attack McCain's Health, Temperament

September 26, 2008 7:20 PM

Two third-party liberal groups have teamed up to run this TV ad  seeming to imply that  Sen. John McCain , R-Ariz., will die in office.

Showing pictures of McCain's cancer scar, the script is as follows:

Text on screen: John McCain is 72 years old and had cancer 4 times .

Dr. Michael Frakin: The relevance of knowing the details of his course with melanoma are very important.   Another bout of cancer for John McCain while he is president of the United States would profoundly impact his capacity to lead.

Noah Craft, Ph.D.: Melanoma is the deadliest of skin cancers and the chances of survival, if you have melanoma spread through your body, are very, very slim.

Text on screen: Why won't John McCain release his Medical Records?

Announcer: Brave New PAC and Democracy For America are responsible for the content of this advertising.

Another Brave New PAC TV ad features former POW Phillip Butler saying of McCain, "he would blow up and go off like a Roman candle. John McCain is not somebody that I would like to see with his finger near the red button,"

These ads are more what is called "flares" -- with little-to-no presence on TV, but a big internet presence that the groups are trying to use to get free media attention.

Republicans are insinuating that the Sen. Barack Obama's campaign has something to do with them. Obama told Democratic contributors to refrain from contributing to these independent groups, but The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder reported this month that "after a year of telling donors not to contribute to 527 groups, of encouraging strategists not to form them and of suggesting that outside messaging efforts would not be welcome in Obama's Democratic Party, Obama's strategists have changed their approach. An Obama adviser privy to the campaign's internal thinking on the matter says that, with less than two months before the election and with the realization that Republicans have achieved financial parity with Democrats, they hope that Democratic allies -- what another campaign aide termed ‘the cavalry’ -- will come to Obama's aid."

The Obama campaign says this is not true.

The Republican National Committee's Danny Diaz points to the fact that Democracy for America is run by Jim Dean, the brother of Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, to insinuate that Obama and the DNC are behind these ads. He also says that Larry Lessig, an adviser to Obama on technology issues, is chairman of the board of Brave New Foundation -- which is separate from Brave New PAC, though both were founded by film director Robert Greenwald.

"The fact that Howard Dean's brother and an adviser to the Obama campaign are behind despicable and cheap smear ads against Senator McCain is deeply disappointing, but in no way surprising," says Diaz. "Barack Obama has promised Americans an elevated debate offering nothing but gutter, Chicago-style politics."

The Obama campaign insists it has nothing to do with the ads at all, and argues these connections are pretty tenuous.

- jpt

September 26, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (53)

User Comments

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McCain appeared lost and had to be walked off the stage yesterday when his eye started twitching.

McCain refuses to release his complete medial records because____________?

McCain cancer surgery took out 33 lymph nodes indicating it was a Level 3 melanoma cancer. His long term survival rate is not rosy.

Posted by: Lee-Usa | Oct 3, 2008 1:16:49 PM

Who says McCain always has temper?
I watched the debate, Obama looked irritated and angry when McCain attacked him.
On the other side, McCain was so calm and acted like a good teacher.
Even when those "View" girls attacked him , he was very calm and patient to them.

My neighbor was diagnosed with melanoma 5 years ago and he still live ,healthy and he is 87 years old now.

Posted by: catleya | Sep 28, 2008 6:43:54 PM

hmn: And where did you hear that news from. As far as I have seen on the TV the POW's are for John McCain. And if a woman wants to know about her husband or son she should call the VFW not ask John McCain. He's not a record keeper.

Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Sep 28, 2008 10:38:37 AM

Melanoma Survivor: Good for you that survived it. My husband didn't survive his cancer and died much younger than McCain. There are also many youngsters that have cancer and their mother's hoping they can be cured. I feel sorry for anyone that has that disease because you suffer with it towards the end. No one should make comments about people with cancer no matter if your democrat or republican.

Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Sep 28, 2008 10:31:31 AM

Jeff: I'm with you. You are absolutely right. Hillary did get cheated out of her delegates and Dean, Nancy, Obama and Reid made deals with the superdelegates to switch their voteto Obama. Nancy didn't want Hillary to have a roll call or all her delegates counted at the convention for fear she would win the nomination. Obama is so underhanded he doublecrossed the woman running against him for the senate, took her to court and won the case which he should have lost. This was shown on TV. He ruined that woman's career in politics. He is the worst candidate and has made more trouble than any candidate that ran for the office of presidency in this country. CNN polls had him winning the debate. No so. There are other polls that claim McCain won. CNN is pro-obama and so is MSNBC. And all this discussion that Palin should step down is nonsense. The democrats have fear of McCain winning the election because of her. Palin said she can't wait to debate Joe Biden on Oct. 2nd. As far as Couric is concerned years ago when she was first hired there was talk that she should was wrong for that job and should be fired. She is no Diane Sawyer or Robin Roberts.

Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Sep 28, 2008 10:25:04 AM

Deborah: And how long do you estimate your life. Aren't you aware that young kids are dying of cancer and many of the stars have it. John McCain will die when God is ready for him. And his choice of Palin put a bomb in the democrats because she is drawing huge crowds wherever she goes. She had a crown of 60,000 at Lake Lake Florida and McCain drew five thousand more than Obama in Green Bay. Don't underestimate McCain. He could win this election.

Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Sep 28, 2008 10:11:30 AM

FACT: McCain's father died at age 72.

FACT: McCain, now aged 72, would be the oldest man ever inaugurated as President.

Posted by: millie gernes | Sep 27, 2008 7:25:56 PM

That's about the best you can expect from Barack Obama and his thugs. I know ABC wouldn't run the ad but their henchmen don't mind putting it up on the web. Nothing new there.

Posted by: Lynn | Sep 27, 2008 6:05:39 PM

At least the ads are FACTUAL, which is far more than can be said of the McCain campaign.

While McCain likes to cite his mom's longevity, his dad died at age 72. While my paternal grandmother lived well into her 90's, my dad died at 74. McCain is in denial about his mortality, and selecting Palin as his successor was an irresponsible choice.

Posted by: Deborah | Sep 27, 2008 9:40:50 AM

TELLING THE TRUTH about McCaint is fine!

Far better for Americans than Republi-cons TELLING LIES ABOUT Candidate Kerry!

If you are telling the truth; but your enemy is telling BOTH truths and lies, then your enemy would have an advantage!

Who would want to see an American leader surrendering to a disadvantaged position? lol

Unwise Americans should not underestimate Obama.
Obama is no Gore or Kerry, who will allow their opponents unfair advantages.

Posted by: Patriot | Sep 27, 2008 9:32:32 AM

3 years ago I got melanoma cancer and this third party ad really hit home. I know now- who it will be. Having melanoma cancer is not a death sentance. For everyone who has had melanoma or any type of cancer for that matter.

Vote John McCain..

Posted by: Melanoma Survivor | Sep 27, 2008 8:23:35 AM

Well, that's not the person who debated last night, is it. The proponents of these ads are NASTY CREEPS!

Posted by: chad3337 | Sep 27, 2008 7:51:10 AM

I don't agree with these style of ads . They are more like McCain campaign type. But you cant denie they have a point there.

Posted by: foreclosure | Sep 27, 2008 7:06:14 AM

And Obama released a statement regarding his, going back 16 months...sounds like less to me.

Posted by: Wade | Sep 27, 2008 1:21:18 AM

Fist Ad - John McCain has still not released entire medical records transcripts for medical critque by medical experts. He has only released to let people view quickly, but did not release records in transcript form, nor were records complete. Melanoma - the deadly skin cancer - x 4 does indicate these records are very important. American people have a right to all medical record transcripts.

John McCain has been well know for his violent temper. This is a legitimate issue. This POW statement is quite good and of significant importance!! I had read his comments before. McCain has a history of getting into two fight with fellow senators that had to be physically broken up- one physical and one verbal. These fights were verified and admitted by McCain Campaign. Fellow senators know of his quick violent temper. I worry about him being President - with past history of vilent temper

Posted by: Sharonklim | Sep 26, 2008 10:49:14 PM

What a coincidence that these sleazy ads have come out at the exact same time as the Obama campaign began the exact same sleazy attacks, especially considering that Howard Dean's brother is behind them and David Axlerod has a lifetime history of being a sneaky, underhanded bastard.

Posted by: OxyCon | Sep 26, 2008 10:48:55 PM

Note to mccain campaign:

I have counted 7 times that Obama said "john is right" and "john is absolutely right". Mccain should make a commercial out of it.

clearly Mccain is offensive and Obama is defensive...way too defensive.

Posted by: friead | Sep 26, 2008 10:20:22 PM

Kindasorta reminds me of the time I was stopped by a cop because he THOUGHT that I was not going to stop for a stop sign. No ticket - just wanted to throw weight!! Same stuff - different setting!!

Posted by: Temagami | Sep 26, 2008 9:37:13 PM

I don't like this ad - and I wish it would be pulled, but I want McCain's medical records released. The man has cancer - and I honestly hate to say it - I've seen dementia develop - and the man has memory problems. As Cafferty says - the idea of Palin as President should scare the daylights out of regular Americans - and its not because she's tough. It's because she is such a weak candidate. it's time for transparency - from John McCain - and it's time Charlie Black let Sarah Palin off the leash they've got her on. Let the woman speak.

Posted by: mara | Sep 26, 2008 9:20:28 PM

samhiguchi states "We have seen McCain's medical records, his mother is 96. "
________________________________________________

Using your logic, McCain's father died at the age of 70 so McCain should have been dead two years ago.

Posted by: Paige | Sep 26, 2008 9:01:15 PM

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