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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.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Obama TV ad hits McCain on his homes

Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2008 12:05 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:

From NBC's Mark Murray
In an immediately quick turnaround, the Obama camp is already up with a TV ad hitting McCain for his admission that he doesn't know how many homes he and wife Cindy own. (Hat tip: Ambinder and Ben Smith.)

McCain spokesman Brian Rogers has emailed this response to the coordinated Dem attack on McCain's homes: “Does a guy who made more than $4 million last year, just got back from vacation on a private beach in Hawaii and bought his own million-dollar mansion with the help of a convicted felon really want to get into a debate about houses? Does a guy who worries about the price of arugula and thinks regular people 'cling' to guns and religion in the face of economic hardship really want to have a debate about who’s in touch with regular Americans?"

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To First Read and camp Obama;

To First Read viewers:

I'll be honest with everyone..and I have been reading this sentiment is widespread. At this point for the last 5 weeks McCain has been winning. I know it's early and Obama may simply be exausting McCain's resources early but we have all seen these trends before with Democratic candidates. There is extra caution this time because Obama is black. Yet it seems there is a lethargy from his campaign that takes his position from granted and seems to not realize that being who he is, he should work twice as hard as McCain to win. I've doubted Obama before and was wrong and I hope this is the case as well. But right now, I don't see it. He looks like he's out there on his own...essentially being drowned out by McCain and the media that he leads by the nose. There is no narrative to counter McCain's attacks and even yesterday as Obama responded it wasn't strong enough. Obama's response seemed unfocused and too general. Asking McCain to dignify his campaign is like asking a hog to stay out of the mud and comes across as complaining. Obama should go after McCain's character/honesty or atleast call him out directly because unlike the past..McCain actually IS damaging his own character and "brand". The american public is completely oblivious to what McCain has done or what he stands for. And unlike the Democratic primary where Obama was given the benefit of a doubt..he won't get that with the general election. Many of us are his base and as one blogger put it..he hasn't given us anything to fight back with. I've watched McCain lie and smear unlike any POTUS candidate before...he's completely adopted the politics of Rove and nobody seems to care or notice. I usually don't pay attention to polls but these latest for the first time have deflated me..and I may have to face a McCain presidency. It's scares me because he has become just like Bush. If anyone from camp Obama is listening this election is about the American people...just like he said. It's not all about getting to know Obama better...it's about getting this country on the right track. We need help, we need a Democratic president but we need Obama to fight for it.

To Obama:

It's not about you sir, it's about us...please allow EVERYONE in the Democratic party to help you. It's needs to be Democrats vs Republicans(neocons)...not Obama vs Republicans. You can't take on a whole party Mr. Obama...you need our help. I don't see your surrogates, I don't see a consistent message against McCain, and I don't see the enthusiasim to win. If it's one thing the "Pumas" were right about..it was that Clinton was a political brawler. Mr. Obama, if you can't do it, atleast enlist some help. I'm an African American Democrat but if I'm having these doubts I can't imagine what others are thinking right now. McCain is doing anything to win right now...he's fighting harder right now. People will give him credit for it and because of that he can beat you no matter how he does it. The American people want to know they have a President that will fight for them and right now I don't see it in you sir. You need to show that you feel the anguish of struggling workers and than you want to represent us so bad it pains you. McCain cannot win if the American people know without a doubt you will fight tooth and nail to fix this mess Bush has left. We all know this country won't make any progress under McCain...4 more years is too long to wait for another chance for change. By then Democrats will be so damaged from electorial loses against Bush and McCain that we may not see an intelligent candidate such as yourself for another decade and the party may not ever be the same. So much is at stake Mr. Obama..the future of this country is at stake. The media may not realize it since they trivialize every issue and do not give McCain the same scrutiny they give you. The GOP may not realize it since the right wing media/party leaders have not learned from the errors of Bush and continue to play partisan politics in the face of crisis. The average voter may not realize it because they have fallen victim to the smears and prejudices that they hear on TV, books, and the internet. But I know you know what is at stake, as do and I. This country will be on the brink of collapse under more "Bush/McCain" policies. Please for us, for the country, for the Democrats and Republicans..for the majority that believe in you...FIGHT!
Nice to see that Obama is sticking to the issues  Americans care about.
BRAVO TEAM OBAMA!

So much for lucky number seven, huh Senator McCain?

What an angry, petulant response from the McCain campaign.  Mr. Rogers has just shown how the entire campaign is about 2nd Grade taunts.  

By the McCain campaign admission, Senator Obama has caught the scent of blood in this attack.  McCain is incredibly wealthy and out of touch, and has no interest, whatsoever, in helping Americans hurting in this economy.

Senator Obama's campaign should pull on this thread until the entire sham of a sweater of Senator McCain's campaign is pulled right off his back.  

And Senator McCain?  You deserve it.  
At least this guy worked his way through college while taking out loans, and stayed faithful to his wife and family...

Which is way more than you can say for McCain and his utter betrayal of his crippled wife.
McCain...Yes he can get into a debate over houses...Especially when by your definition of rich Obama is just middle class....at least Obama acknowledges he has money and doesn't struggle and should pay more taxes on what he makes...Why won't you
Re: Brian Rogers' response.  Didn't McCain claim that $5 million in annual income was the cut-off for "being rich?"  By McCain's own stated definition, Obama is middle-class.  Methinks the McCamp doth protest too much.  Better luck next time, though.
Yes - McCane
- McCann had a silver spoon in his mouth since birth
- He dumped his wife for a milionares
- he wares 225 dollar shoes

- Obama came up from nothing.

Its time people new this.
Okay, just so this is cleared up. For Democrats, it wasn't important how many houses Kerry had during the 2004 election, but it is important how many houses McCain has in 2008?
In one brief gaffe, there goes millions of dollars worth of celebrity ads down the tubes.
This will hurt McCain.  He just lost the "elitist" argument.  I live in an apartment because I'm scared to buy a house at these prices.  And I struggle to save up enough for a down payment.  And this guy wants my vote?  Who can't remember how many houses they own?
Don't talk houses, talk Draft!!
Response to Mr. Brian Rogers:

"YES, HE DOES! BRING IT!"

:)

Let's discuss how this money came about and what the definition of "Rich" is ... 5 million Mr. McCain? Then I guess Mr. Obama BY YOUR OWN DEFINITION IS UPPER MIDDLE CLASS.  You didn't cheat on your poor disabled yet faithful wife to marry a "rich young thang" to get that did you?  YES WE ARE GOING THERE!




http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/

POW's don’t want McCain. Maybe you should try covering some of this and do some real journalism. Everyone needs to read through this website and view the videos and I guarantee nobody will vote for McCain after doing so. It shows how much the military despises this man.
Brian Rodgers doesn't get it....McCain is a BILLIONAIRE - with many houses....who is the elitist??  They don't want the people to remember anything about his past and current problems either...felon's - is he talking about the Keating 5? One in which John McCain was part of the probe?? Or the Cindy McCain's money is from a "distributorship of beer" which may not be clean as a whisle?  Don't get me started Mr. Rodgers...
JOHN MCCAIN'S ANSWER TO WHAT IS RICH IN THE PASTOR RICK FORUM

Jonathan Martin, Mike Allen Thu Aug 21, 7:34 AM ET
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in an interview Wednesday that he was uncertain how many houses he and his wife, Cindy, own.
I think — I'll have my staff get to you," McCain told Politico in Las Cruces, N.M. "It's condominiums where — I'll have them get to you."

WHAT A LIAR SINCE SEN. MCCAIN SAID $5M IS RICH MAYBE WHY IS HE ASHAMED OF HIS HOMES AND THAT FACT THAT HE KEEPS GIVING THE RICH ALL THE BREAKS!

In the interview, McCain did not offer an alternate number, but had a new answer ready.
“I define rich in other ways besides income,” he said. “Some people are wealthy and rich in their lives and their children and their ability to educate them. Others are poor if they’re billionaires.”


AMERICA WHO DO YOU KNOW DEFINES RICH BASED ON THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN AND OUR ABILITY TO EDUCATE THEM..............................

NO SEN. MCCAIN, THAT'S "BLESSED" A TERM THAT YOU CANNOT IDENTIFT WITH BUT PLAY WITH THE MEANING OF "CHRISTIAN" EVERYDAY

JOHN MCCAIN EVEN SAID, "GEORGIA IS A CHRISTIAN" STATE?  

HOW WOULD HE KNOW? AND WHY WOULD HE EVEN BRING THIS UP OTHER THAN PLAYING TO EVANGELICALS LIKE THEY HAVE DONE IN 2000 &2004

JOHN MCCAIN AND THE REPUBLICANS DON'T PRACTICE BEING CHRISTIANS THEY JUST TELL THE PEOPLE THEY NEED TO HEAR IT THAT THEY DO

THESE FOLK HAVE REDUCED THE BIBLE TO 1)ABORTION  2) MARRIAGE

I HAVE A BIBLE WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL THESE FOLK THAT THE BIBLE IS THOUSANDS MORE MISSIONS AND THESE PARTICULARLY ABORTION IS NOT ADDRESSED.

WHAT HAPPENED TO BIBICAL TEACHINGS ON PROVERTY AND HELPING THE LEAST OF THEM, IF THOSE WHO PROFESS TO BE CHRISTIANS MISS THIS THEY MISS THE ENTIRE MARK

CHRISTIANITY SHOULD NOT BE USED TO WIN ELECTIONS AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE LAST 2 ELECTIONS.
yeah I think he does want to have that debate because inspite of all of that he's still more in touch than the guy with access to hundreds of millions of dollars, wears $500 shoes and has too many houses to count.
“Does a guy who made more than $4 million last year, just got back from vacation on a private beach in Hawaii and bought his own million-dollar mansion with the help of a convicted felon really want to get into a debate about houses? Does a guy who worries about the price of arugula and thinks regular people 'cling' to guns and religion in the face of economic hardship really want to have a debate about who’s in touch with regular Americans?"

Short answer:  Yes!


It is indeed a shame that the McCain mudslinging lies and distortions has brought about the necessity of negative attacks from Obama. Never overestimate the intelligence of the electorate that voted for GWB twice!  Lucky Obama has so much good material to use aainst McCain.
You bet a guy with only one house, who went to school on loans and scholarships, and who didn't dump his first wife and kids for a rich, blonde heiress wants to get into a discussion about wealth!  Ads like this, and the new ad which stresses Obama will cut your taxes three times more than McCain, are exactly what the campaign needs to be pushing right now.  Reveal McCain for the elitist, cheating, out-of-touch, unfaithful snob that he is!
McCain knows exactly how many homes he owns...just wanted to dodge the question. Apparently he heard this one.
Still waiting for McCain camp response on yesterday's New Mexico Town Hall where McCain said he didn't disagree with anything the lady said...one of which was that she didn't see how we could follow bin Laden to the gates of Hell without reinstating the draft.
Please First read...this is important to all Americans and their children.
Does a guy who is so out of touch that he thinks one has to earn $4M to be rich be talking at all? Should a guy who admitted that he has no knowledge of Economics even open his mouth?
Playing hardbal, eh?  Most Americans---especially ones losing their ONE home!---don't care about the money Obama made from writing HIS OWN book, and earning, not marrying, his money.  They just see that McSenile married ten mansions and can't even remember how many the "c*#t" got him.  THAT, the middle-class WILL remember...right into the voting booth.
NEITHER of these guys needs to be throwing around the "you're too rich" ball. Period. These two can't stop being negative, and it's a testament to the rough future this country is facing REGARDLESS of who is elected. Elections shouldn't be about who you DON'T want, but they have been for 20 years.
$4 million makes Obama middle class according to McMoney.

Oh and by the way $4 mil + Hawaiian vacation  + Rezko  + arugala + cling STILL doesn't equal "I think — I'll have my staff get to you, — I'll have them get to you." SEVEN, count 'em SEVEN houses.

Desparate response by McMoney campaign proves Obama's found the jugular on this one.
C'mon Obama, get busy on the McCain draft ad.
The McCain response is great.

"Well, uh, Obama has a nice house too."

Maybe so, but he doesn't have 10 of them, and his wife is not a beer heiress worth more than $100,000,000.
Brian Rogers,

Don't you get it? YES, he wants to have that debate. Arugala? Please. It is not as though a healthy green vegetable is 'forbidden fruit', like having an adulterous affair with a 21 year old heiress. You people have only yourselves to blame for the 'elitist' boomerang that just whacked you good, and proper.
Oh boy! Here we go!  The out-of-touch mantra against Obama from the McCain campaign has been a ticking time bomb and it looks like it's about to go off.  One could start with comparing Obama's working and borrowing his way through college and repaying all of his student loans compared to McCain who, by virtue of the fact that his father and grandfather were both Admirals, was provided a free education at taxpayer expense at Annapolis - where he finished near the bottom in his class ranking.

Or, one could ask McCain how much he pays for loafers. Or has he every earned a paycheck from the private sector.  Or ever had to pay for health insurance.

The out-of-touch theme is about to explode.
If Obama farts, does it smell? I know for him it doesn't, but what about the people around him? What do they have to say?
CC Rodgers,
GOP whining begins as Democrats fight back.
OBAMA 08
How about an ad about a real issue...McCain desire to reinstate the draft to invade other countries
It's understandable that McCain wouldn't know how many houses he owns. It's tough enough to keep track of all those pairs of $520 Ferregamo loafers in his wardrobe.
Mr. McDraft can't remember s***.  He doesn't remember what effect the draft had on this country in the past, so lets do it again.  How does he remember what the GOP platform is?????  

Bob, Chicago
McSnob is so out of touch with America!

Oh he is POW so lets give him a pass on everything!
Major Plank in the Democratic Platform -> Oh My Gosh, someone worked hard and was successful! Can't have that! Take it away from them and give to the slackers.
Brian Rogers - go back to kindergarten.

What a moronic response.

How come you didn't stick out your tongue.
I love McBush's threats.  No matter what Obama owns, it can't be anywhere near as much as McCain owns.  

It would be nice to see the two of them get into a pissing match.  McCain - "I only own seven, but yours are bigger and were paid for by convicts."  Obama retorts - "Well so were yours - a bunch of Bud drinking rednecks."

Nice attack ad.

Obama '08
Yes he does want that debate. Obama earned his education, it wasn't handed to him because of an admiral legacy. He didn't ditch his wife for a young millionairess. He doesn't blame the mortgage crisis on the middle class but want to bail out the banks.

Magoo is now a typical neocon that will serve Oils best interests.
1) $4 Million? Isn't that squarely in the middle class to McCain? 2) For every bit of arugula, there's $520 Italian calf skin loafers cradling the feet of McCain. 3) John McCain isn't worried about Obama raising the taxes of the middle class. Obama's plan isn't about doing that. John McCain is worrying about Obama raising HIS taxes. Including the nice bump the McCain's will get from the sale of Budweiser to the Norwegians.
McCain probably has his eyes on that home in Corpus Christi,TX whose current inhabitant (Jerry) has already made plans to move to Canada on Nov. 5th. That will occur immediately after his BOO HOO party sponsered by the few people who still believe in being a conservative Republican. Conservatism is a congenital mental disease with no know cure.
Let me think a guy who made over $4million last year.. McCain then that makes Obama below middle class or just another ordinary American trying to make it in this horrific Bush/McCain economy
We should hear more from the media about McCain's supporting reinstitution of the draft, as reported by Keith Olbermann.  McCain is dangerous; he is for shooting first and asking questions later.  He is quite likely to start WWIII, without making any diplomatic effort to prevent unnecssary military conflicts.  

He say he knows how to win wars, but we need a President who knows how to win the peace

War should be a last resort in any international dispute.
Obama needs to run this and similar types of ads through election day.
McCain camp relying on lettuce for Oppo research. Pathetic! They also undermine themselves by stating that Obama is middle class ($4 million < $5 million threshold).  They are rattled. Plus check out today's polls on RCP, Obama up in EVERY ONE.
CJ - that is the best response I have seen on this forum for a long time.  You need to email that to Obama - we've got to win this thing - we cannot take four more years of this Republican garbage.  For those of us that follow MSNBC we have to get mad and we have to start fighting back.  Re-read CJ - print it up so you'll have it to remind yourself - tell your friends - make sure we all get to the voting booth.   Get mad, get energized, get even!
It is time for Obama to do to McCain what Jackson wanted to do to him. The hopes of a civilized, issues-driven campaign are gone; I only hope the democrats will give what they get and not allow the republicans another dirty win.  
A question for those who want to put McCain in the White House:

"How can a man be in touch with our lives when he's so out of touch with his own?"

I like arugula and I'm definitely not an elitist or anywhere close to being rich. I don't see how saying some people worry about the price of arugala makes Obama an elitist. I'm sure we all have certain things that we like that others may not. Does that make us all elitist?
CJ:  I like your comments.  Hope the Obama campaign is monitoring this site.  

Maybe McCain wanted to dodge the question, I think he can count to ten, but maybe not remembering is the truth. It's called DEMENTIA.

Obama also needs to capitalize on the DRAFT answer.  The Dems are not as good as the Repubs for repeating the same answer over and over. Time to fight back using McCains own statements. It's time to hit back...harder.


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