Let Freedom Ring, a political 527 special interest organization, is airing a :30 second TV ad targeting Obama titled "Both Ways Barack." The spot focuses on Obama's dueling positions on a litany of issues.
Both candidates will be targeted and supported by a variety of special interest groups. And some special interests like the AARP will target both.
The size of the advertising buy for this ad has not been disclosed (which is not required by law).
But the general subject matter of the spot has been noted previously in media reports and is obviously accurate. For a candidate like Obama, about whom, Americans know so little, attacks like this are serious threats. If most voters don't know much about Obama, then groups like Let Freedom Ring have an opportunity to plant substantial seeds of doubt and concern.
The ad's script reads:
People are saying that Senator Obama's recent changes of position have made him a flip-flopper.
He's not! Flip-floppers only hold one position at a time.
Senator Obama is different: he holds two positions at the same time.
Both ways on banning handguns.
Both ways on public campaign financing.
And now, both ways on withdrawing from Iraq.
He's 'Both Ways Barack.' Worse than a flip-flopper!
McCain does not FLIP FLOP when voting for the American Military – He always votes against them:
John McCain claims that his military service is one of his qualifications to be commander in chief. I seriously doubt his dedication to the American military. His voting record shows his lack of concern for our bravest men and women.
John McCain missed 10 of the past 14 votes on Iraq.
John McCain in September 2007: voted against the Webb amendment calling for adequate troop rest between deployments.
John McCain in July 2007: voted against a plan to drawdown troop levels in Iraq.
John McCain in March 2007 was too busy to vote on a bill that would require the start of a drawdown in troop levels within 120 days with a goal of withdrawing nearly all-combat troops within one year.
John McCain in February 2007 didn’t even bother to show up to vote against a resolution condemning it. For such a strong supporter of the escalation, McCain didn’t even bother to show up and vote for it.
John McCain in June 2006, voted against a resolution that Bush start withdrawing troops but with no timeline to do so.
John McCain in May 2006, voted against an amendment that would provide $20 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for health care facilities.
John McCain in April 2006, was one of only 13 Senators to vote against $430,000,000 for the Department of Veteran Affairs for Medical Services for outpatient care and treatment for veterans.
John McCain in March 2006, voted against increasing Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.
John McCain in March 2004, once again voted for abusive tax loopholes over veterans when he voted against creating a reserve fund to allow for an increase in Veterans' medical care by $1.8 billion by eliminating abusive tax loopholes. Jeez, McCain really loves those tax loopholes for corporations, since he voted for them over our veterans' needs.
John McCain in October 2003, voted to table an amendment by Senator Dodd that called for an additional $322,000,000 for safety equipment for United States forces in Iraq and to reduce the amount provided for reconstruction in Iraq by $322,000,000.
John McCain in April 2003, urged other Senate members to table a vote (which never passed) to provide more than $1 billion for National Guard and Reserve equipment in Iraq related to a shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, and tactical vests.
If he believes that we should stay the course for as long as possible he should be willing to support the people he puts in harms way.
John McCain is not a friend of the American Military.
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Vera
11:16AM Jul 21st 2008
McCain does not flip flop where it concerns helping people. This is the man who voted against raising the minimum wage in, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2006.
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CHUCK
11:18AM Jul 21st 2008
McCain said he was the "GREATEST CRITIC" of Rumsfeld's failed Iraq policy. In December 2003, McCain praised the same strategy as "a mission accomplished." In March 2004, he said, "I'm confident we're on the right course." In December 2005, he said, "Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course."
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McCains New Friends
11:21AM Jul 21st 2008
McCain decided in 2000 that he didn't want anything to do with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, believing he "would taint the image of the Straight Talk Express." Kissinger is now the Honorary Co-Chair for his presidential campaign in New York.
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THE MORTGAGE CRISIS
11:23AM Jul 21st 2008
In his widely panned March 25th address on the economy, John McCain essentially blamed American homeowners teetering on the brink of foreclosure for their plight, insisting any assistance must be temporary and must not reward people who were irresponsible at the expense of those who weren't. Facing a backlash, McCain just two weeks later on April 11 rolled out new proposals, claiming his priority number one is to keep well meaning, deserving home owners who are facing foreclosure in their homes. As the New York Times concluded: In both tone and substance, Mr. McCain's remarks were something of a departure from a speech the senator delivered last month in California in which he warned that it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers.
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McDumb
11:24AM Jul 21st 2008
McCain vowed, if elected, to balance the federal budget by the end of his first term. Soon after, he decided he would no longer even try to reach that goal.
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Are you better off today?
11:27AM Jul 21st 2008
McCain believes Americans are both better and worse off than they were before Bush took office.
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NO New Taxes?
11:28AM Jul 21st 2008
McCain pledged in February 2008 that he would not, under any circumstances, raise taxes. Specifically, McCain was asked if he is a "read my lips candidate, no new taxes, no matter what?" referring to George H.W. Bushs 1988 pledge. "no new taxes," McCain responded. Two weeks later, McCain said, "I'm not making a read my lips statement, in that I will not raise taxes."
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MCCAIN IN THE POCKET OF LOBBYISTS
11:29AM Jul 21st 2008
In 1998, he championed raising cigarette taxes to fund programs to cut underage smoking, insisting that it would prevent illnesses and provide resources for public health programs. Now, McCain opposes a $0.61-per-pack tax increase, won't commit to supporting a regulation bill he's co-sponsoring, and has hired Philip Morris former lobbyist as his senior campaign adviser.
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McCheney
11:30AM Jul 21st 2008
McCain supported the Lieberman-Warner legislation to combat global warming. After Dick Cheney talked to him now he doesn't.
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God help McCain
11:32AM Jul 21st 2008
He wanted political support from radical televangelists like John Hagee and Rod Parsley. Now he doesn't.
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The best friend of lobbyists
11:33AM Jul 21st 2008
McCain supported his own lobbying reform legislation from 1997. Now he changed his mind!
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JOHNNY GET YOUR GUN
11:34AM Jul 21st 2008
He argued the NRA should not have a role in the Republican Party's policy making. Now he believes the opposite.
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Joe
11:37AM Jul 21st 2008
Thank you for clarifying McCain's issues. I will cast my vote for him. We may never know Obama's position on things, at least not before the election. The question is, does he know his position without asking those pulling his strings?
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Oh! He just forgot!
11:37AM Jul 21st 2008
McCain believed the U.S. should engage in diplomacy with Hamas. Now he believes the opposite.
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Susan from Nevada
11:38AM Jul 21st 2008
When you need the Nevada vote you change your mind.
McCain supported storing spent nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.
Now he believes the opposite.
Which is it Senator McCain?
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Angel For Obama (*_*)
11:40AM Jul 21st 2008
McCain supported moving "towards normalization of relations" with Cuba. Now he believes the opposite.
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CHUCK
11:43AM Jul 21st 2008
Susan from Nevada11:38AMJul 21st 2008
When you need the Nevada vote you change your mind.
McCain supported storing spent nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.
Now he believes the opposite.
Which is it Senator McCain? zxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxzxz
Good point! McCain recently called for the building of 40 new Nuclear Plants. Has anyone asked him where he is planning to store the nuclear waste?
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Kwaayesnama
11:49AM Jul 21st 2008
He opposed indefinite detention of terrorist suspects. When the Supreme Court reached the same conclusion, he called it "one of the worst decisions in the history of this country."
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MCCAIN NEEDS VIAGRA FOR THE BRAIN
11:49AM Jul 21st 2008
McCain thought the estate tax was perfectly fair. Now he believes the opposite.