Is Obama Arrogant, or Is McCain Cranky?
McCain's "celebrity" ad may hurt Obama, but may hurt McCain too.
July 31, 2008— -- Sen. John McCain's ad depicting Sen. Barack Obama as a paparrazzi-worthy celeb in the same class as Britney Spears and Paris Hilton may be the oddest attack ad in recent campaigns, but it's not clear whom it hurts more -- Obama or McCain.
The clear message in the Republican's ad is that the candidacy of Obama, who draws tens of thousands of admirers for his speeches, has been buoyed by his celebrity rather than grounded in the presidential school of hard knocks.
"Like most worldwide celebrities," reads a McCain campaign memo about the ad, "this status has fueled a certain arrogance."
The Republican Party's new Web site, Audacity Watch -- a not-so-sly reference to Obama's book "The Audacity of Hope" -- cites Obama's use of a faux presidential seal on his podium as an example of his arrogance. And the GOP could only stew during Obama's world tour last week, when he was treated like a world leader in the Mideast and greeted by more than 200,000 fans for a speech in Berlin.
In a town hall meeting in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, today, Obama scoffed at the ad.
"Given the seriousness of the issues, you'd think we could have a serious debate," Obama said. "But so far, all we've been hearing about is Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. I mean, I do have to ask my opponent, is that the best you can come up with? Is that really what this election is about? Is that what is worthy of the American people?"
The crowd yelled: "NOOOOOOOOOO."
On Wednesday, Obama's allies went on the attack for him. Progressive Accountability.org picked up on a Huffington Post blog mocking McCain, R-Ariz., for wearing $520 Ferragamo loafers.
Implicit in the counteroffensive, however, is the danger that McCain's wacky attack could actually work against Obama.
Michelle Cottle of the New Republic noted, "Americans don't like presidents who think they are better than the average guy."
George Stephanopoulos, ABC News' chief Washington correspondent and host of "This Week," said Republicans have effectively used this tactic before to make their opponent appear elitist.
