Letters posted here are associated with the following article:

31
Letters
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 12:00 AM

MoveOn, AFSCME hit McCain on Iraq

The groups' new ad goes for voters' emotions, and targets John McCain's comments about staying in Iraq for 100 years.

The letters thread is now closed.

View:
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 10:29 AM

Stupid AD

The Ad is very unprofessional. Frankly I think MoveOn and other 527s should stay out of this election.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 10:33 AM

Sorry Everybody.com

It reminds me of the sorryeverybody.com site that emerged after the 2004 election. Thousands of Americans holding up signs of apology for re-electing George.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 10:39 AM

It's Tough but Good

John McCain needs to be held accountable for his absurd comments about "100 yrs" or withdrawing troops not being too important. The fact is that the Bush admin and many in the GOP, including McCain, have a clear vision of the US occupying Iraq for many decades to come. This is an outrage. We are not at war with Iraq (how could we be since they didn't attack us) and we have no legitimate purpose there. We need to leave.

And like the woman in the ad says, John McCain, you can't have my son either

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 10:46 AM

When do they promote Obama?

We ran the last election against Bush. It didn't work. Too many people didn't like (or were inspired to doubt) Kerry's credibility. They voted for Bush, because they knew him and trusted him. Obama has his best shot at establishing his credentials right now. So... where are the pro-Obama ads? Where are the ads promoting change and unity and hope? Obama's entire primary campaign was "Clinton is evil, don't vote for her". He barely won, even with the media on his side. People don't like negative campaigns, even if they repspond to them. Now, the entire message I'm getting from Obama supporter's is "McCain is evil, dont' vote for him".

But McCain has been around for decades, and he was not evil. He was the guy who compromised. He was the moderate who fought for campaign finance reform and stood up to the hard core right wing. He was the guy who barely won his own primary because he was considered too liberal by the right wing. H'es smart, dedicated, and tough. He survived being a prisoner of war, right wing politics, and hiked the grand canyon with his sones just a couple of years ago. He is a powerful figure in Congress with decades of experience getting big bills passed.

Oh... and in case you're wondering, I know McCain is not as moderate as people think. But they aren't going to vote on the truth, they will vote on their perceptions of the truth.

And I think that most moderates can figure out that Iraq is a mess and, while Obama has promised to get the troops out, he has provided no plan to do so and talks about keeping troops in Iraq to protect our interests. They also know the the "100 years" meme is hyperbole. McCain can't stop the anti-Iraq War tide, and he certainly can't make sure that we're there 100 years.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 10:47 AM

Alex needs to grow up.

The thing about this "100 years" thing, is that I don't think even McCain supporters really believe we're going to be there until little Alex grows up.

But I do think people could easily put their heads around us being there another 5 years, and not wanting that, either. So I can't help but think this ad would have had more credibility and impact with a junior high school age kid.

"Alex just graduated middle school. We're having a party for him and all he can talk about is how excited he is about studying biology so he can go to medical school someday..."

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 10:50 AM

Phony

It seems terribly contrived. I kept wondering if that was a real mother and child or an actress with a rent-a-baby. Come on MoveOn, you can do better.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 10:56 AM

I guess she would rather Alex get his head chopped off!

How lame. Maybe some pictures of sad puppies would be more effective...

This video is dumb for several reasons:

1)Looks so low budget, and she's not a very good actress

2)Uh, as far as I know, there's not a draft, and highly doubt McCain would instill a draft. So unless Alex is planning on visiting Iraq on his own or joining the military, he's proably okay.

3)The US has been in Germany since WWII. Wow, what an atrocity. Any idiot knows McCain does not want 100 years of war, he's talking about the US maintaining military bases in Iraq, which is a smart strategic move, particularly with Iran acting a fool and the whole psychosis of the Middle East. There are hundreds of US bases all over the world, and most governments have no problem with that.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:02 AM

I think it's dumb

Sorry. I thought going emotional would be a big win for the Democrats (maybe talking to an actual parent of someone who's been killed or maimed or...I don't know. Just making a genuine connection to the viewer) but this is cheesy and obviously an actress. You don't believe it. I think it will turn off more people than it affects.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:06 AM

obama mama

ehhh, I wasn't going to say it, but... yes, this is a god-awful actress.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:06 AM

And with The One Great Obama....

Well only be there until he's what, 11 or 12? I guess that's an improvement, of sorts.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:12 AM

I wrote to MoveOn.org

I wrote and told them why I wouln't send them money for the ad. This ad distorts the facts and appeals to the emotions. Unfortunately the sword cuts both ways (and already has). I was hoping with candidates like McCain and Obama the campaign would be more honorable and focused on real issues, but that was a vain hope.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:26 AM

@kufir77

"The US has been in Germany since WWII. Wow, what an atrocity. Any idiot knows McCain does not want 100 years of war, he's talking about the US maintaining military bases in Iraq, which is a smart strategic move, particularly with Iran acting a fool and the whole psychosis of the Middle East. There are hundreds of US bases all over the world, and most governments have no problem with that."

Um, I'm German, and let me tell you I did not and do not appreciate American soldiers in my country. Nor did I appreciate French and British soldiers there.

But the point of my letter is this: I believe one of the main reasons we attacked Iraq is to build military bases there. Sorry, in my book, THAT's an atrocity. The U.S. has sunk low, indeed.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:46 AM

McCain Will Stay the Course...

...for decades if need be in Iraq. Why in the world do some posters not get that this is the REAL mission in Iraq? That much should be stunningly obvious by now. The Bush admin is actively trying, as we speak, to ram through a deal allowing our troops to remain in iraq after the resolution expires this year. What does that tell you?

Most Active Letters Threads

524

The crazy, irrational beliefs of Muslims

Tom Friedman explains the real problem: stupid Muslims think the U.S. is about war and aggression.
427

The face of rotted Washington

Evan Bayh demands more debt-financed war - fought by others - while boasting that he's a stern "deficit hawk."
187

Bigotry wins in Switzerland

By voting to ban the construction of minarets, Switzerland apes the most extreme intolerance in the Muslim world
130

Facebook, the mean girls and me

At 34 years old, I finally feel like a popular seventh-grader. How sad is that?
103

Polanski moves from jail to ski chalet

The rapist director is granted bail, and one of his most vocal apologists celebrates

View all »

Letters Help

Currently in Salon