McCain Asks North Carolina GOP to Pull Ad on Obama’s Pastor
INEZ, Ky. — Republican John McCain asked the North Carolina GOP not to run a television ad that brings up the controversial former pastor of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
North Carolina Republican Party officials insisted the ad will run as planned despite McCain’s request.
The ad opens with a photo of Obama and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright together and a clip of Wright, whose incendiary comments about race have bedeviled Obama.
“He’s just too extreme for North Carolina,” the narrator says in the 30-second spot.
“We asked them not to run it,” McCain told reporters on his campaign bus in Kentucky Wednesday. “I’m sending them an e-mail as we speak asking them to take it down.
“I don’t know why they do it. Obviously, I don’t control them, but I’m making it very clear, as I have a couple of times in the past, that there’s no place for that kind of campaigning, and the American people don’t want it,” McCain said.
McCain said the ad was described to him: “I didn’t see it, and I hope that I don’t see it.”
Republican National Committee chairman Mike Duncan, campaigning Wednesday with McCain, said he had left a voice mail message for state party chairwoman Linda Daves asking her to pull the ad.
McCain, in an e-mail to Daves, said he will draw sharp contrasts with Democrats. “But we need not engage in political tactics that only seek to divide the American people.”
North Carolina GOP spokesman Brent Woodcox said the ad will begin running statewide on Monday, a week before the state’s crucial May 6 primary.
The ad actually targets gubernatorial candidates Richard Moore and Bev Perdue, Democrats who have endorsed Obama.
“We have a great relation with the RNC and we fully support John McCain for president,” Woodcox said. “But this is an ad about two North Carolina candidates for governor. The ad is going to run.”
Daves defended the ad, saying it “presents a question of patriotism and judgment.”
“It is entirely appropriate for voters to evaluate candidates based on their past associations,” Daves said.
North Carolina Democratic Party chairman Jerry Meek said the ad is an attempt to distract attention from real issues.
“It’s one thing to criticize somebody for associating with somebody else,” Meek said. “But to criticize somebody for associating with somebody who associates with somebody else is ludicrous. Where does it end?”
Obama has denounced the most inflammatory of Wright’s comments, but says the pastor shouldn’t be judged solely on a handful of remarks. Obama has expressed admiration for the pastor, who officiated at his wedding, baptized his two daughters and inspired the title of his best-selling book, “The Audacity of Hope.”
North Carolina’s primary will divide 115 delegates among the Democratic presidential candidates and decide the party’s nominee for governor. Polls indicate that Obama holds a comfortable lead over rival Hillary Rodham Clinton in the state.
Senator McCain, you will be Prez 2008 and we will all work to ensure you will be. But I disagree with you on this one. Obama likes to whine and if he does not get a reason he manufactures one to whine. He is a whiner. That is the nature of the man, and it is also his plan for Denver. Nobody can change his nature. Therefore, let North Carolina have their fun, Sir. Obama is a Bum and needs to be irked. Typical Democrat!1
McCain and Hillary have no issues to run on. This is why they run these attack ads to try and look better. But this time……they cannot deceive the public.
YES WE CAN !! OBAMA 09
Comment by Jacqueline in Spokane, WA
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:07 pm
This might be the boost Obama needs - Nothing like having the Republican Party so afraid they start campaigning even before there’s a nominee. I have been a registered Republican for many years but I’m tired of all the political antic and with this campaign season being particularly long, it’s nice to have a young intelligent newcomer inspiring young people to get involved and that challenges us all to be better people. It’s refreshing to hear what “we” are capable of, not the typical political what “I” can do.
I can’t imagine why any American would want any more Bush or Clinton Family Presidential dynasties. It’s time to take back our liberty. Americans don’t need political “big brothers” intruding and taxing every move, we need representatives that are interested in representing “we, the people”, that know how budget, and can balance a checkbook.
Jacque in Spokane
So, I assume that is a McCain endorsement? Surely you jest if you imply Obama won’t tax everything and will restore any liberties? He is the worst offender thus far in his rhetoric of increasing taxes (he supports a universal tax for the world’s poor) and taking away liberties (he has all but said he wants guns banned). I would say on the tax hikes and infringing upon liberties, he is the worst offender of the three. This is all based on his spoken words, of course, as only McCain has any measurable track record in Washington. The two junior senators on the Dem ticket are just getting started, so who knows what they really will support if they somehow manage to win the office?
McCain does not represent the mainstream republican. The North Carolina ad is relevant
and should be shown.
Since when has the truth that is being hidden from the American Voters become attacking someone??
I say God Bless America when a candidate is brave enough to tell us the truth that we need to know. That is why I have been watching Hannitty and Colmes on Fox each night. Except for Dick Morris who definitely lives off lies and his past association with the Clintons and has done for years, most of the show is ‘fair and balanced’
I have learned a lot that I didn’t know at the beginning of this Primary election, and I would never have known it from MSNBC OR CNN.
I loved the ABC debate that took courage and it was only the tip of the iceberg.
McCain needs to mind his own business and butt out. This add doesn’t have anything to do with him. As a matter of fact, if North Carolinians had gotten to vote in the primary, he wouldn’t even be the republican runner. Since we didn’t get to vote we never voted for him in the first place, so he needs to stop trying to tell us how to run things here. He knows nothing about North Carolina.
McCain’s holier than thou attitude is really getting sickening. I have never voted for a democrat, but Hillary Clinton is looking better and better, and May 6th is not that far away. McCain needs to stop dictating to everyone like he is their father, and concern himself with issues instead of correcting everyone who he disagrees with. McCain hasn’t won the presidency and he isn’t the president and even if he was, North Carolina doesn’t answer to him or anyone else.
We need to know who Obama really is. Keep the ads going. We need a president who reflects lve for his country.
Republicans, be afraid, be very afraid. It’s a matter of time, the Obama train will take your votes. McCain can have the best of both worlds…His party slings mud, while he distance himself from the negative campaign and benefit from it all. Smart, but obvious. Good Try. Obama will be in the White House. He will stand against McHillary and end up in the white house. Go Obama!!!!
McCain is a man of good character, which is why he is a Republican. Hillary and Obama would run the ad just as they have run negative ads against each other in the recent past. It is going to be nice to have McCain in the White House.