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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

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Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Graham and Lieberman defend ad

Posted: Thursday, July 31, 2008 12:58 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: ,

From NBC's Ken Strickland and Andrea Mitchell
Responding to criticism of McCain's recent TV ad depicting Obama as celebrity without substance, two of McCain's key Senate allies fired back in an unrelated news conference.

GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham said the whole idea of the ad was "fame without portfolio." "This is a hysteria around a personality that's attractive, but when you look under the hood there's not a whole lot there," Graham told reporters. "So fame without portfolio is sort of fashionable. But leadership without experience is dangerous."

VIDEO: A TV ad released by John McCain's campaign labels Barack Obama an an empty celebrity to be compared with Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Ads from Obama have hit back. NBC's Savannah Guthrie reports.

The "hysteria" Graham referenced was about Obama's recent European trip. "If you embark upon a world tour and you decided to make a campaign speech in a foreign country in front of 200,000 Germans and you act like you're already president, people may notice."

Graham then suggested that Obama may be getting too big for his britches. "He said something yesterday, basically, that he embodies everything good about America. Well, it's good to have self confidence, but you can maybe go too far."

Meanwhile, Sen. Joe Lieberman took a different tack, saying the ad simply compares the two candidates in a "creative" way and people should lighten up. "To some extent the appearance of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears -- people complain about it -- they should just relax and enjoy it," he said.  The idea is to draw people into the ad. The point of the ad is really quite strong: Who's ready to lead America?"

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["To some extent the appearance of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears -- people complain about it -- they should just relax and enjoy it," he said.]
--I don't care about the politics.  The ad chants Obama and actually had a flattering picture of him with "No Foreign Oil."  A pretty lousy attack ad, if you ask me.

However, I mean, it's one thing for the media to harass the faux celebrates, but it is another thing entirely for a political campaign to target American citizens in its ad.  It doesn't matter how dumb they are, Spears and Hilton are still American citizens, and don't they deserve that respect.  Isn't John McCain's campaign supposed represent the American people, rather than USE American citizens to get elected in an attack ad?  It's actually quite dispicable and reprehensible.  And I don't know why I'm the only one to notice this, thankfully, the McCain campaign kind of walked the line with this one.
If I was Graham and Lieberman, I would be friggin' embarrass to defend this trashy ad. But as for Graham that is just green ENVY showing there!
The fact is their man - McBush have nothing positive at all since 2000. Fact that McBush voted 95% WITH  Bush in 2007 and God knows how much more this year! Do people really want to add 4 more years to the last 8 dismal years?!!  Put a 71-72 year old man who's memory is failing?? Can you imagine what he is NOT capable of doing if woken up at 3 a.m. in the morning??  Here is one of many reminders!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfealLrWLIY&feature=related

I RATHER TAKE THE UNBEATEN PATH THAN STAY AND DIG DEEPIER IN THIS SAME SINKHOLE!!

Hey Lieberman and Graham: To think Bush, one term Texas governor and overall private sector failure, was awarded the Presidency over Senator, Vice President and future Nobel Prize winner Al Gore in 2000. To think Mr. Protecting the Skies over Alabama during Vietnam War Bush beat Swift Boat combat veteran John Kerry in 2004. Kinda bodes well for Mr. Slim Portfolio Celebrity Obama over Long Time Senator McCain, don't ya think?
Is McCain simply unable to perform the duties of President based on physical ability alone?  Why hasn't he been able to campaign and do his currently elected job in the Senate more often?

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
Votes: 399 votes missed (63.3%), 231 votes cast

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)
Votes: 282 votes missed (44.8%), 348 votes cast

Obama has managed to cast 117 more votes, 50% more than John McCain.  Yes, they have to campaign.  But Obama was in a long heated fight with Hillary Clinton for MONTHS after McCain had wrapped up his nomination.  What was he doing?  How is it that Obama can manage to vote 50% more often than McCain? How is it that McCain has voted less than Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) who suffered a brain hemorrhage on Dec. 13, 2006, and spent several months recovering?

How is it that you see Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Grahamm with him all the time, yet they can make the votes?

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT)
Votes: 21 votes missed (3.3%), 609 votes cast

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Votes: 44 votes missed (7.0%), 586 votes cast

He doesn't do any weekend events either.  If he's unable to work weekends and can't be bothered to vote at all.  Is he really up to the task of President?  

Is he too old?

Look at how George W Bush has aged from when he took office.  Look at Clinton.  What do you think that kind of pressure will do to McCain?

Sorry, McCain is too risky.  Both in his voting record, policy plans, and overall.


First we have the RICH Botox face Cinderella standing by her little man, the celeb POW for years now. He is so arrogant that no one wants to confront him with anything that would cross him, like his affair that the press dropped.

He controls the media like puppets and they won't even question the truthfullness of the HERO status.

He is jealous that he only got 25 people to watch him in a sausage joint when Mr. Obama got over 200,000.

I am still trying to figure out what is wrong with people like in Oregon respect and are excited by the posibility his presidency would mean... not only for the U.S., but the world!

THIS IS A GREAT THING, unless you are a jealous McFool follower.

Be Happy that the world can work with this man.

And call the right person arrogant... Johney boy










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