McCain's New Complaint About Obama: Young People Like Him

Posted by Steve M., No More Mister Nice Blog at 7:04 AM on August 13, 2008.

McCain's latest attack ads are trying to paint Obama as the rockstar candidate for the youngsters who don't know squat.

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Jake Tapper of ABC apparently accepts the premise that blondness, whiteness, and femaleness are the point of McCain's endless succession of anti-Obama ads -- this one, for instance.

How many young white women professing adoration for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, can you count in this anti-Obama web video that the campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, was sending out yesterday?

One ... two ... three ... four ... sure are a lot of young white women in this thing....

But I think Kevin Hayden nails the real meaning -- and the proper response:

... It's clear that -- while subtle racial exploits do play the Southern strategy out very softly -- the real aim of 'The One' campaign is to frame the inexperience charge (which failed for Hillary) in a new way.

Portraying him this way with constant use of the young, promotes the impression that young adults like him like a rock star. He's pretty. He talks cool. He's with it. Beyond that, there's no 'there' there.

And of course, what do celebrity-worshiping kids know?

... I now sense what they're drilling into the public consciousness: don't trust the judgment of young people AND nobody supports Obama BUT the young. For frivolous reasons.

Kevin continues:

Each ad also adds an extra: Obama's gonna cost you some money. So there's the two major messages: all the different ways Obama's gonna cost you. And nobody older than 25 is dumb enough to believe he has anything beneficial to anyone.

I think the money message is less damaging, simply because voters are cynical about all candidates' claims that they won't tax you and the other guy will. But interweaving the message that Obama enthusiasts are silly and young with the message that Obama is a taxer might plant the notion in older voters' minds that Obama himself is basically a school-age kid who doesn't know the value of a dollar.

In any case, Kevin's solution is the right one:

... The proper response, in addition to issue ads, are ads showing middle-aged and senior voters talking about why they're voting for Obama, how they relate to him, the things he shares in common with them. Counteract 'The Other' image McCain is projecting, especially the vapid 'Other' that only dumb kids can appreciate.

This isn't an either/or question -- the ads can be about miscegenation and resentment of "elitists" and the notion that only young, silly fanboys and fangirls support Obama. But I'm convinced that the last of these three is crucial, and needs to be countered directly by the Obama campaign.

Tagged as: obama, youth vote, mccain, seniors, attack ads, 'the other'

Steve M. blogs at No More Mister Nice Blog.

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Broaden the base [Report this comment] Posted by: jebpgh on Aug 13, 2008 7:24 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I think the point here is right. We can't whine about how the GOP will play the race card because we all know they will. What we can do is focus the public's attention on how broad and diverse the Obama support is in the country, how it crosses party lines, age lines, ethnicity lines. The unspoken message here is that McCain can't really demonstrate the same - which means that McCain cannot really bring us together. There is a second line of response as well. The older population have serious reservations about McCain - but more importantly - about the GOP. Deny McCain the ability to play a senior card with the senior population and he is left with his depressed and shrinking base of angry, ultra-conservative voters. You have to dry up the pond folks. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] RNC Planners Sued [Report this comment] Posted by: Lauren on Aug 13, 2008 7:51 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] by Impeachment GroupOp Ed News Impeach for Peace is a grassroots, nonpartisan organization based in Minnesota with chapters in twelve states throughout the country working to achieve the impeachment of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney and holding them and future elected officials fully accountable under the Rule of Law. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Hahahahaahahahaaa...I think you might like this! [Report this comment] Posted by: foreverhope on Aug 13, 2008 10:33 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I phoned Leibermann's office this morning. Left a voice mail for him, told him I am "an older disabled independent voter in Washington State", not entirely untrue as I go after dems or repugs alike if it is necessary. I don't care just want them to do their jobs properly. ANYWAY, my voice got sort of shaky as I explained that I voted for him and Gore in 2000 and I really like him and admire him so much, and McCain too, like him but haven't made up my mind yet (God forgive me) and I am upset with this insinuation or suggestion that Obama is anti-american or even a traitor or doesn't love our country. I said I don't understand that and I don't think it is true and I just really wish they would stick to the issues so I can make up my mind because it is very upsetting! ;-) teehee... You can leave a message for Liebermann by phoning: 1-202-224-3121 [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Where do I sign up? [Report this comment] Posted by: OldRedleg on Aug 13, 2008 1:23 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I'm an old(er?) guy and a military veteran, to boot. Where do I sign up for the response ad? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

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