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‘After one president in the pocket of big oil, we can’t afford another’

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There was considerable talk in Democratic circles last week about Barack Obama’s desire to maintain an entirely positive message — and whether that was wise given the relentlessly negative McCain campaign message. More than a few Dems thought it was time to maybe throw a punch or two.

It looks like the Obama campaign agrees. This new ad, called “Pocket,” was unveiled this morning.

The voice over tells the viewer, “Every time you fill your tank, the oil companies fill their pockets. Now Big Oil’s filling John McCain’s campaign with 2 million dollars in contributions. Because instead of taxing their windfall profits to help drivers, McCain wants to give them another 4 billion in tax breaks. After one president in the pocket of big oil, we can’t afford another.”

The ad continues, “Barack Obama — a windfall profits tax on big oil to give families a thousand dollar rebate. A president who’ll stand up for you.” The ad ends of course, with the obligatory, “I’m Barack Obama and I approve this message.”

The McCain campaign, apparently hoping to become a parody of itself, responded, “Barack Obama’s latest negative attack ad shows his celebrity is matched only by his hypocrisy.”

We’ve effectively reached the point at which every sentence from the McCain campaign includes a noun, a verb, and “celebrity.”

A few thoughts on the Obama ad. First, given the barrage of attacks from McCain, if Obama hadn’t started to return fire a bit, it would have been a mistake.

Second, the ad on energy policy comes as part of a week-long effort — Obama campaign staffers have labeled this “energy week” — to push the senator’s agenda. Obama will in Lansing, Mich., today, to unveil additional details on his energy proposal, labeled the “New Energy for America” plan. The speech will reportedly emphasize an energy rebate, an initiative to create 5 million “green” jobs and a drive to eliminate the need for Middle Eastern oil over the next 10 years.

Third, the pushback from the McCain campaign has focused this morning on the ad’s claim that McCain supports $4 billion in tax breaks for oil companies. The argument from the presumptive Republican nominee is relatively straightforward — McCain wants a massive cut in taxes for all corporations. It’s not like McCain is singling out oil companies for special favors; they’ll just get the same tax break every other corporation will enjoy.

That argument is, in fact, true. I’m not sure, though, why it’s supposed to make McCain’s proposal more palatable. McCain inadvertently wants to give $4 billion in tax breaks to the five largest American oil companies? That’s not exactly a compelling defense for a reckless and irresponsible giveaway to an industry that clearly doesn’t need any more tax breaks.

And finally, I’d just add that there’s already an important distinction to be made about the qualitative differences between the competing campaigns’ “attacks.” This is the first “contrast” ad the Obama campaign has unveiled, and it’s entirely substantive — McCain’s wrong about energy policy. By way of comparison, what have we been hearing from the McCain campaign about Obama? Race, celebrity, arrogance, presumptuousness, patriotism.

Even when these two go negative, there’s a difference. One cares about substance, the other wants to make this personal.

Comments

  • Existenz

    says:

    I like the ad, especially the continued use of Bush-McCain. In fact, I think every single ad should have Bush and McCain standing together. There should even be some ads that simply profile McCain’s long pro-Bush record:

    McCain has voted with Bush 94% of the time.
    McCain, like Bush, is extremely anti-choice.
    McCain, like Bush, still refuses to admit that the Iraq war was a mistake.

    I also think it would be smart for them to put up some ads crystalizing the terrible Bush record. For example: “In 2001, the nation had a $138 billion surplus, and gas cost $1.50 per gallon. Now, after eight years of George W. Bush and John McCain, we have a $490 billion deficit, and gas costs over $4/gallon. Can we really afford four more years of Bush/McCain economics?”

  • slappy magoo

    says:

    one question, and it’s one I’m sure the right will ask/insinuate/lie about…

    Are we sure Obama hasn’t received any Big Oil money? Even a little? It wouldn’t take much to undermine Obama’s argument that McCain is in Big Oil’s pocket, but he isn’t Even a single donation of a few thousand dollars could and would be blown out of proportion by the GOP & their media minions. He’s got to be purer than 99 44/100ths percent pure on this subject, and even then, he’ll still get slammed. Fingers crossed.

  • Jeff

    says:

    Only problem is McCain voted against the tax breaks for big oil in the bush-cheney energy bill of 2005.

    Obama the compulsive liar voted for the tax breaks for big oil and subsidies for big oil.

    McCain voted against the subsidies for big oil in 2004 as well.

    McCain is against drilling in anwr. Big oil doesn’t like Obama.

  • Jane

    says:

    ce·leb·ri·ty
    –noun, plural -ties for 1.
    1. a famous or well-known person. 2. fame; renown.

    I would assume that a major party candidate for president should be well-known. I’m pretty that’s how you get votes.

  • Jeff

    says:

    McCain voted against tax breaks for big oil in 2004 and 2005.

    Obama voted for tax breaks for big oil in 2005.

    Obama’s is one big lie after another.

  • Jeff

    says:

    McCain hasn’t voted with Bush 94 percent of the time

    That was a study that took 4 votes

    McCain is ranked in the middle. He has gone against Bush almost half the time.

  • jhm

    says:

    I also like the “energy week” plan. If this is part of a scheme to capitalize on Hon. Sen. McCain’s failure to issue much in the way of policy and drive the debate going into the convention, count me as enthusiastic. A few weeks of Hon. Sen. Obama’s well thought out policy prescriptions counterbalanced by Senator McCain doing his best impersonation of Yosemite Sam, jumping up and down and ranting about celebrity, suits me fine.

  • beans

    says:

    Oil is slippery business. I wonder what the real story is; the “responded” link is either misleading or troubling. With no obligation to print or report the truth anymore, I guess it’s open season. Baseless attacks are fare game. I’m scared.

  • syl

    says:

    “McCain hasn’t voted with Bush 94 percent of the time

    That was a study that took 4 votes”

    So McCain voted with Bush 3.76 times out of those 4 votes?

  • Prup (aka Jim Benton)

    says:

    THIS is the type of ad I have been expecting. I never said — though I may not have made this clear — that Obama shouldn’t attack McCain on his positions, on the issues, or run comparison ads. They were inevitable, and welcome.

    Just no personal attacks, no ‘responding in kind.’ No Cindy ads, no substanceless name calling.

  • Stevio

    says:

    Jeff:

    Can I borrow $4.39.9 for a gallon of gas so I can drive to the voting place and cast my vote for Obama? Maybe you can make it $10, as I want to buy a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk too. Better yet, never mind. I think I’d just spend it on trying to pay my heat bill this winter and I am sure you’ll need it too if McAce is elected…

  • Racer X

    says:

    I’m glad Obama is finally going right at McCain and his corporate masters. It’s pretty easy to see that Jeff has no clue what he’s saying, since the oil companies are heavily backing McCain*. If Obama was their buddy they’d be sending him millions instead of McCain. And Jeff, if you want ANY respect at all, at least provide a link to your ridiculous claims.

    * http://mccainsource.com/corruption?id=0014

  • zeitgeist

    says:

    heh. I consider Jeff (and his ilk) like a scoring system of the success of an Obama ad. we hadn’t seen much of Jeff, now all of a sudden he responds to this ad with 3 posts in 3 minutes. looks like we hit a bulls-eye!

  • maya

    says:

    Nothing but absolutely astonishing, the idea that we should reward the very companies who wrote the Bush/Cheney energy policies 7 years ago that have gotten us into this mess by giving them bargain basement leases on US Taxpayer property.
    Oh, sorry, we’re not supposed to know they wrote B/C’s energy program policy. Executive Privilege and all that.

  • joseph marcucilli

    says:

    I shall let the voters decide which party is on the side of big oil.When the price of oil went to 147 dollars a barrel worldwide demand had increased 1%.This translates into 80 dollars a barrel.So what happened?When the 106th Congress passed the Commodities Futures Modernization of 2000, it removed the oversight duties of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission or (CFTC ) regarding excessive speculation in any commodity under contracts of sale of such commodity for future delivery due to its tremendous impact on the economy.Now if you trade on the OTC electronic exchanges there is no oversight regarding futures manipulation so no entity can stop fraudulent trading.The public is simply being duped into thinking it is simply a supply and demand situation.Like the mortgage industry this is another example of what occurs when no contraints are placed on our financial institutions.

  • NHCt

    says:

    The Obama ad doesn’t really put it all in context. It’s not just that McCain received $2 million from oil folks, it’s that half of that came in the one month after McCain so bravely went to Houston to advocate for more drilling. I’m a little surprised this quid-pro-quo isn’t in the ad.

  • AgentX

    says:

    The McCain campaign, apparently hoping to become a parody of itself, responded, “Barack Obama’s latest negative attack ad shows his celebrity is matched only by his hypocrisy.”
    Oh, that’s rich coming from the McCain camp. They, all 115 lobbyists of his campaign, are gonna lecture Obama on hypocrisy? Really now?

    Don’t make Carpetbagger bust out those 61+ flip-flops list, cuz you know he’ll do it! (PS: I’ll bet the Carpetbagger $50 that McCain breaks 95 flip-flops by November 1st)

    Wasn’t the McCain camp calling McCain a celebrity up until recently? Oh, so now he’s a political celebrity,

    They must think I’m stupid or something. Maybe they think other Americans are stupid since they know McCain won’t be getting the intelligencia vote.

  • doubtful

    says:

    Using zeitgeists scoring method, and (in honor of the beginning of pre-season football, woo!), it looks like this ad scored 7 touchdowns in one game.

  • Tom Cleaver

    says:

    Even when these two go negative, there’s a difference. One cares about substance, the other wants to make this personal.

    This is all very good, and I am damn glad the Obama campaign has done this. I do wish progressives would “get it” about McCain’s commercials. They aren’t aimed at us, or even most of the uncommitted among voters. They are “dog whistle” ads – ads whose message can be “heard” by the people McCain needs to keep: the “populist” far right, i.e., the fat bozo at your local water cooler, spouting the most recent talking points from Limpdick, Insannity, Beck, Savage, et al. You know him – the loser who arrived at his Peter Principle top point the day he took the job he’s got..

    These guys envy and ultimately hate everyone who is better off than they are – those who are more intelligent, more successful, happier, etc. That’s because every time they look at those people they see their own failure. Not wanting to face the truth, they find ways to “put down” those who they perceive as “the enemy.”

    As I learned when I used to participate as a crew member on a race team at the Reno Air Races, there is a not-insignificant portion of the audience in the stands who are there to see a crash and revel in it.

    Those are the “populaist” far right, the folks who haven’t been all that supportive of McCain, the ones he needs. And so the Rovians thrown them the red meat – someone they can laugh at, think of derisively, consider themselves superior to., know will never be “one of them,” etc.

    Yes, it’s sad and pathetic, but these folks are there – they’re what you find at Free Republic and Little Green Snotballs, the ones who enjoy “staying in line” at RedState. The droolers whose ancestors went to the Colisseum to see the Emperor give the “thumbs down” so they could see blood in the sand.

  • Capt Kirk

    says:

    So big oil gives Barack $400,000 and gives McCain five times as much. jeffery, doesn’t that just sound like big oil doing a CYA? Guess that wouldn’t be insinuating enough for you.

    I say more ads like this from Obama, stick to the issues and ignore the “celebrity” hype.

    This morning I saw McCain on CNN calling his ads “humor”, yeah but the problem is they’re laughing at McCain not with him. But I won’t discourage McCain from more of this type of advertising, next how about a shocking exposé that exposes Obama’s popularity; or they could accuse him of being tall and handsome.

  • Tom Cleaver

    says:

    Hey, Jeffery Johnson: did you shave today, little boy? Does mommy know what you’re doing down there in the basement with that computer????

    It’s nice to have a good example here of what I was talking about previously for everyone to check out. Thanks for your unceasing efforts to help, fatboy.

  • jeffery johnson

    says:

    Tom Cleaver, Just the type of post I would expect from an Obama supporter. Sounds like you can’t think if anything constructive to say.

  • beans

    says:

    Jeff, jeffery johnson, whoever you are… this blog site seems a little to the left of where you may enjoy any success with converting liberals. I guess that’s why you are here; unless you enjoy planting stink bombs. Probably that. And you probably like farting in crowded rooms and blaming someone else. If anything, you are solidifying the base here and reminding (us) why we stay away from the fray.

  • jeffery johnson

    says:

    What are you Tom, in the 5th grade? You don’t seem very intelligent. I mean I used the same quotes when I was in grade school.

  • Ernest Sedgwick

    says:

    37. On August 4th, 2008 at 1:23 pm, jeffery johnson said:
    Another intellectual heard from. But then again you are democrats.

    No. Just amused.

  • Always hopeful

    says:

    “When the 106th Congress passed the Commodities Futures Modernization of 2000, it removed the oversight duties of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission or (CFTC ) regarding excessive speculation in any commodity under contracts of sale of such commodity for future delivery due to its tremendous impact on the economy.” – Joseph Marcucilli

    …and JP Morgan has the heating oil market cornered through commodities contracts. Wait unti it gets cold out and see what happens to heating oil prices. Unfortunately I think we will be reading and hearing some stories about old people and poor people freezing to death. Go GOP!

  • Brittanicus

    says:

    You might want to ask your State representative energy conservation? How much gas, oil and electricity we could save, if we sent illegal aliens packing.
    We cannot keep up the demand for it right now! Oil! Diversity Alliance for Sustainable America.(earthtimes) stated in it’s article that if the U.S. grants amnesty and gives citizenship to 12 to 30 million illegal migrants already here, as McCain, Obama and the majority of Democrats propose. That all those naturalized citizens could possibly add 120 million U.S. and foreign-born relatives to the U.S., in the next 20 years whom all will CONSUME MAJOR ENERGY. Does the American people need to escalate the 315 million plus population, the census estimates we have now? To a new total of 435 million?

    The executive director of (DASA) admitted “Proposal to reduce energy costs in the U.S. will not work unless we also simultaneously curb U.S. population growth by reducing immigration and curbing teen pregnancies.” Severing the illegal immigration occupation and deporting those already here is a good start, but not the complete solution to this serious energy problem that cannot be reversed. Unless another Nikola Tesla, an underrated genius of the 19th century invents a some new form of energy, we will be reliant on fossil fuels for years to come? Clean coal, geothermal, eco-fuel, nuclear and of course wind power and solar. The latter is energy that is a perpetual source of unimaginable power that knows no bounds.

    The Save Act (H.R.5088) is an enforcement federal bill only, to start the EXODUS of foreign nationals illegally in AMERICA. NUMBERSUSA has all the unsuppressed facts

  • Bruno

    says:

    Existenz said:…Can we really afford four more years of Bush/McCain economics?”

    Actually someone should run the numbers and extrapolate, what it would look like if the Bush policy was continued.

    If gas went from $1.50 to $4.30 in 8 years, maybe another 4 McCain years, would bring it closer to $6.00, since McCain doesn’t plan on changing anything.

    Same for the budget deficit. larger and larger.