But, the NY Times still went ahead an ran the article: McCain Tries to Define Obama as Out of Touch
 After spending much of the summer searching for an effective line of attack against Senator Barack Obama, Senator John McCain is beginning a newly aggressive campaign to define Mr. Obama as arrogant, out of touch and unprepared for the presidency.
Those of us here in the starboard-o-sphere have been saying that for the better part of 9 months.
On Wednesday alone, the McCain campaign released a new advertisement suggesting — and not in a good way — that Mr. Obama was a celebrity along the lines of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Republicans tried to portray Mr. Obama as a candidate who believed the race was all about him, relying on what Democrats said was a completely inaccurate quotation.
Let’s see that ad
Makes sense to me, particularly since all the left leaning Credentialed Media and liberal pundits have been portraying Barry as a rock star and a latter day Messiah.
The Republican National Committee began an anti-Obama Web site called “Audacity Watch,†a play on the title of Mr. Obama’s book “The Audacity of Hope.†And, in a concerted volley of television interviews, news releases and e-mail, campaign representatives attacked him on a wide range of issues, including tax policies and energy proposals.
This is a good line of attack by McCain and the GOP, particularly since the Democrats and all their little groups, such as as MoveOn and The World Can’t Wait, have painted Bush as arrogant and out of touch for damned near his entire time as President. If an arrogant president, who is “out of touch with the electorate,” and refuses to say when he is wrong, is no good for the country in the name of George Bush, then why would Obama be good for the country? Can’t have it both ways.
McCain should couple this with a strong campaign on energy and the economy, two of the main concerns of the electorate.
Oh, I just have to update this post. In a sane word (read, where Liberals stay on their meds), this would be the work of someone in serious need of a straight jacket, rather then a supposed mainstream Democrat. The Atlantic (h/t Sister Toldjah)
It’s remarkable what those fiendish GOP operatives can squeeze into thirty seconds: Not only does McCain’s “celeb†ad have “Barack Obama will rape yo daughters overtones,†says Rick Perlstein (who’s apparently under the impression that most Americans think of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears as stand-ins for their daughters), but it was edited to blatantly evoke Triumph of the Will as well – the better to freak out elderly Jews in South Florida, perhaps. Comparing the “Celeb†ad to stills from Leni Riefenstahl’s work, Perlstein writes: “I actually wonder if the Republicans had a crew on the scene to capture just the right angles; for instance, the identical camera placement shooting the speaker over the shoulder at stage right.†If he actually wonders that, I fear for his sanity.
As ST writes “That assumes he had any sanity to begin with.”
Nothing Prozac, electroshock therapy, and a lobotomy wouldn’t cure.
Meanwhile, the family of the girl who is famous for being famous (oh, and several sex tapes), is a bit upset with the above ad.
I actually saw it this morning (started running in WI today). Not bad IMO. Just points out basically that his popularity isn’t based on anything of substance, but rather in image alone.
Personally, I think it is fair criticism in the ad. If Obama has a problem with it, instead of whining about it, provide something to counter the point. If you have done something (lead the push for some kind of legislation in his 142 days in the Senate prior to declaring) that shows actual leadership, by all means, bring it out, I’d love to see it.
The problem I think the Obama people have with it is the negative images associated with Britney & Paris (obviously).