2008 Campaign Ads Turn Negative

Over the past few weeks, the race for the White House has officially turned negative. The McCain campaign has released a negative and controversial ad slamming Barack Obama for his fame and lack of leadership ability. The ad, as many of you have seen, compares Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

Why? The McCain campaign believes that Barack Obama is more interested in building international rapport and gaining fame, instead of running a campaign for President. Some have even gone as far as to say that Obama's approach to this campaign seems more like he is promoting a movie than trying to gain support for his leadership. They try to portray him as someone who is very aloof and still unknown to the American people, despite his great fame. They attempt to attack that sense of "unknown" by defining Obama through the definition of their own terms in order to target those American voters who remain indecisive.

Luckily thus far, Obama's campaign has decided to take the high road and not return the negative favor. Sure, the ad will gain great attention, but some view it as an ad that is beneath McCain and his belief in honor, and that it will only backfire on his campaign and what he stands for. This also shows signs that the McCain campaign has changed their strategy in the three months prior to the upcoming election. Could this be a tactic to show that the McCain campaign is worrisome that Obama has gained such grandiose attention in the political arena to the point of needing to attack his worldwide recognition and display it in a negative light?

Personally, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and Barack Obama on the same continuum? In recognition, yes, but it stops there. The ad is correct in the sense that he has ever increasing popularity in a "hollywood" sense to the American people, but he is someone with dignity, strong leadership, and ideals that Paris and Britney couldn't even put a finger on. To compare him with the likes of Spears and Hilton is just a pathetic attempt for McCain's campaign to take the limelight off of his weak economic policies (which is one of the most important issues in the current election) and his lack of an ultra conservative stronghold in politics. And for someone who is such an aficionado about honor and dignity through his military pride, he may have just lost his by striking a new low in the campaign. Stick to the issues and your personal beliefs John McCain - stray away from those and it shows weakness and inconsistency.

One definite and agreed upon aspect about this ad is that it will create a forum for discussion and perhaps even spark more fire into those who remain undecided about their candidate choices. While ads like this may be negative, they are at the heart of the modern Presidential campaign, and ignite great debate via one of our country's greatest freedoms - freedom of speech. You watch the video above and decide for yourself what it means to you and how it makes you feel.