'Morning Joe' Team Calls New MoveOn.org Anti-McCain Ad a 'Cheap Shot'

Photo of Noel Sheppard.

Here's something you don't see every day: four people on MSNBC agreeing that an ad attacking Republican presidential nominee John McCain is a "cheap shot."

Yet, that's exactly what transpired Tuesday morning when Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Willie Geist, and John Ridley discussed the new ad just released by the far-left MoveOn.org suggesting that if McCain is elected president, the baby pictured will be fighting in Iraq eighteen years from now.

First up to criticize the piece was NPR's Ridley (video embedded right, use scrollbars to center):

Story Continues Below Ad ↓

I don't think it's a good ad. It's certainly a powerful ad...I need to see something that's going to emote me more than momentarily saying, "You can't have my kid a hundred years from now."...The ad does feel in some ways shrill as opposed to touching me as a father and reminding me of my kids.

Brzezinski chimed in:

Well, I'm just wondering what you think about the use of the 100 year, 'cause I just feel like at this point, it looks like a cheap shot. That, that line has been almost, practically revoked by John McCain, or at least clarified.

Scarborough added his two cents:

Well, and even Frank Rich, you know a guy we love having on who has been critical of John McCain and George Bush's position on the war says that that's a cheap shot.

Finally, Geist spoke:

It might be fair, it might be effective. I just oppose dangling babies in front of cameras to do that.

Bravo, folks.

Moving forward, Hot Air's Allah Pundit has identified the REAL stupidity in this ad:

In which a 90-year-old Maverick, serving his fifth term as president after declaring martial law and suspending the Constitution, conscripts young Alex to walk the beat in Baghdad. Either that or mom here hasn’t yet grasped that (a) President McCain won’t be setting Iraq policy for the next 18 years, let alone the next hundred, (b) MoveOn’s candidate of choice has himself been dropping some dark hints lately about “tactical readjustments,” and (c) whether McCain and the military can have her son is, um, up to her son, not her.

Delicious. Of course, as Allah pointed out, this ad also assumed that when this baby grows up, there would be a draft requiring him to serve.

The left in our nation always seem to forget that ours is a volunteer military. Does it represent stupidity on their part, or intellectual dishonesty?

You decide.

—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.


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Calling that ad a "cheap

Calling that ad a "cheap shot" is a masterpiece of understatement.

And as pointed out, it doesn't even make sense.

It's definitely intellectual (And I use the term loosely) dishonesty.

Logic doesn't matter, facts don't matter. What counts is the emotional manipulation.

Update:

Regarding Obama's "tactical adjustments", that's not the first time he flipped or flopped. Back in February, this townhall column by Amanda Carpenter noted:


CBS’s Steve Kroft asked Obama in a 60 Minutes interview if he would
pull out of Iraq according to a timetable “regardless of the situation?
Even if there’s sectarian violence?”

Obama responded “No, I always reserve as commander in chief the right to assess the situation.”

 

Calling it a cheapshot is

Calling it a cheapshot is like Bluto saying "sorry" after demolishing that guy's guitar.

My vote: 50% stupidity, 50%

My vote: 50% stupidity, 50% intellectual dishonesty.

Or vice versa. 

Does it matter whether its

Does it matter whether its stupidity or intellectual dishonesty? Either one exhibited by the people who wish to control the country is bad.

Lee T.

"Democrats, there is one reason Obama is your party's nominee, and it's not because he's black -- it's because he's not Hillary Clinton." -- Rush Limbaugh, 6/2/08

 

A Ph.D in stupidity.

How low a blow can you fire against McCain, who up to this point has taken the particularly underappreciated stance of avoiding televised criticisms against Obama? Missus, does "V-O-L-U-N-T-A-R-Y S-E-R-V-I-C-E" mean anything to you? Or are you simply appealing to the "downright stupid high school dropout" voter?

Cheap shot – reminiscent of ‘64 “Daisy Girl” ad

Good wrap-up there, Noel. Unfortunately, other than Scarborough or Fox News or Glen Beck,  something like this being discussed in the broad MSM spectrum, without using it simply as a segue into a focused look on how it's the right wing that historically uses these negative and untrue attack ads (their usual m.o.) .. and, as recent MSM spots have presented - that the Obama team will have to be on the ball to defend itself against the "expected" rash of upcoming negative ads directed at Obama and/or his wife. (;~> gary

Sure hope the McCain camp has plenty of BS repellent on hand.

'cause this is only a mild sample of what is going to be flung his way between now and November.

The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz

That same woman would have

no problem handing over her baby son to the nanny state for any and all of his needs. 

He already has medicaid, WIC, and foodstamps

His mother already has 1200 hours of unpaid family leave per year, with Barack the amount of paid leave will be mandated upward

In four years he will get headstart

In five years he will start getting his free breakfast and lunches and multicultural indoctrination in public school

In seven years he will get a handfull of condoms and deviant sexual behavior education

In ten years he will have many of his lessons in spanish

In fourteen years he will learn about US History minus all dead white men, i.e. our founding fathers

In sixteen years he will learn calculus, just kidding, we only have service sector jobs left.  We don't need no stinking calculus!

In eighteen years, he will be denied a place in the college of his choice due to affirmative action.  As a white male, it's a pity this particular lesson didn't come sooner.

Maybe he will

This ad is despicable.

"In eighteen years, he will be denied a place in the college...

...of his choice due to affirmative action."

Exactly, so his only option will be to join the military and be an (unwilling) mercenary.

(sarc)

at least the kid survived

at least the kid survived our daily abortion festivities - but no worries - public "school" will get him...

DAMN!!  That is horribly

DAMN!!  That is horribly depressing--but unfortunately true. :( 

You are so right

You are so right.

America is not about helping people, so away with medicad, foodstamps, and WIC (I mean, it's the kid's fault if they can't feed themselves, right?).

And why should women get paid leave for having a baby. Can't they just
take it to work with them or put it into a self-sustaining crib? Or maybe you think all women should quit work and be barefoot and pregnant at home. That's all a woman's good for anyway, right?

How dare they give our children an education. Especially multicultural education! What kind of principles do they think this country was founded on? And what right do they have to teach them about reproduction. I mean, we Americans are very proud of our teenage pregnancy and abortion rate.

Learning Spanish will be the downfall of our country. Look at those Europeans who have to learn English and French and German and all those languages. Their entire culture has been ruined because they speak a second language.

I'm curious about the alterations in US history however? I hadn't thought of that one yet. What exactly do you see our history books becoming?

Affirmative action really does go too far. I'm sure we all know what it's like to be discriminated against. It's really hard being a white man in America.

You know what though, the ad reminds me a lot of Swift Boats for America's attack ad on Kerry. Only they flat out lied in their ad while this on is just kind of true.

 

...

Huh?

I don't know anyone who believes in that garbage you've just spewed out; conservatives, liberals, anybody. You need your head examined.

"as an enlighted liberal I

"as an enlighted liberal I really care about the downtrodden people"

"but I'm kinda busy - and I can't support "fascist" nuns and missionaries that already do this kinda thankless work tax free - so I'd like to set up a huge faceless beauracracy to "help" them for me - I don't think I could actually bring myself to see homeless people face to face, and besides I'm so swamped with yoga class, and war protests and 10k runs - oh and I have great new alt rock band I'm working on with my buddies:)"

Never mind.

Just read his bio.

This one is hopeless.

The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz

Why am I hopeless? You are

Why am I hopeless? You are assuming a lot about me.

Yes, it's hard to be a white man in the US

where we are continually ridiculed in the media.  It is perfectly acceptable to make fun of white men.  You see it in television shows, commercials, movies, etc.

We've allowed ourselves to be blamed for problems that we didn't create.  It's not fair and it's not right!

Jeff Lebowski

www.angrywhitedude.c...

That's a first

You are the first guy I have ever heard say that...

I'll second it... we are

I'll second it...

we are a highly under-priveledged, second-class minority now

but we still don't demand special rights

what's wrong with us?!?

Dear americanindenial

America is about helping people.  It's called charity.  The government has no business in it. You might be surprised to know that foodstamps cost the taxpayers $35 billion per year, free lunches cost $8 billion per year, free breakfast costs $2 billion per year, medicaid costs us $300 billion.  It's not the kid's fault and it's not mine either.  People need to feed their own kids.

People should get paid leave if their company provides it.  It is part of their total compensation, not a right.  Women can stay at home or pay for child care.  Women choose to get pregnant.  It's their choice.  You like choice, right? 

Unfortunately for you, I do know the principles upon which this great nation was founded.  Multiculturalism was not even a word, much less a founding principle.  Reproduction and morality should be taught by parents in the home.  Our horrible teenage pregnancy and abortion rate is a modern phenomenon that correlates well with our "effort" in classroom sex instruction.  I'm not sure one more "condom on a cucumber" demo will turn the tide.

Learning spanish comes after the downfall and sellout of our country.  Please don't hold the Europeans up as a model for America.  If you would pay attention to recent news in Europe, their culture is in freefall.  There is no rule of law, no religion, no countries - Hey! John Lennon was right!!!

I'll end with a story about Affirmative Action.  While working for DuPont in the 1990's we were hiring two chemical engineers.  I was on the hiring committee.  We screened over 300 resumes--200 men, 100 women.  We called 70 for phone screen interviews--50 women, 20 men.  We called in 10 for interviews--8 women, 2 men.  We then discussed the next step--we would definitely be hiring at least one woman, ideally two women.  When I dared to politely question the rigged hiring decision, the response from a young female engineer spoke volumes, "You got a probem with that?"

Yes, I do.

" America is about helping

"
America is about helping people." - One of America's great strengths is it's charity! I completely agree with that, but I also think that sometimes having a large network creates a more effective system. It's an issue of spreading resources. Sometimes social welfare programs are necessary. A welfare-free state may exist, but I'm not aware of any (industrialized) countries that do not provide these sorts of basic services to their citizens. I know the cost seems high, but for my part, I prefer to pay taxes knowing the money is being spent to help my neighbors. That's part of living in society, in a community.

Getting pregnant is a woman's choice. That is (mostly) true. And some companies are generous, but most companies won't offer such benefits without a bit of a push. Is there really anything so wrong with it though?

As to what our country was founded on, I admit that multiculturalism wasn't entirely it. But America was a country of immigrants, ie people of different cultures. It may not have been a word, but it still existed. As to reproductive education, I somewhat question you're comment that it's a "modern phenomenon". Look at this: http://www.advocates... which states that both teen birth rates, as well as teen abortion rates, have declined over the past 10 years. I'm sure this is all thanks to parents teaching their kids.

As to Europe, they don't learn languages of the minorities they are having problems with (although the French do think that US and UK culture are taking over via the language connection). But the French aren't having a problem with second generation Americans who aren't learning French. The problem they are having is with minorities that are not integrating into their society, and in many ways that is an issue that has been caused not only by the minorities, but also by the French society. I lived in Germany, so I saw the disaffected second and third generation Turkish youth. German society didn't accept them, and in turn they could not (some perhaps would not) integrate very well into society. That is the European problem now. It has nothing to do with Germans learning English and French in jr. and sr. high.

As to affirmative action, I think it's a difficult case. On the one hand, there have been many cases of people who would not hire an African-American or a woman. Is that fair? I think the point of affirmative action should be this: the best person should get the job, regardless of gender, race, age or religion. Is it abused, yes. Should we just get rid of it? I don't know. I think changes need to be made, but I also know that racism and sexism are still alive in America.

I think you better take a

I think you better take a look around this site and read some. :-)

 

------------------------------------------------------------

"It could be the answer to our age-old, philosophical question, 'Why are we here?' PLASTIC!"

Christian charities are

Christian charities are twice as effective at half the price of the feds - and don't cost us any tax dollars to speak of...

Uhm

Of course charities don't cost us tax dollars, else they wouldn't be charities. But charities also get tax brakes, so to some extent it is taking away taxes from the government, seeing as their "income" isn't taxed... America is a pretty wealthy country, so why be so stingy?

anamer... You're kidding

anamer...

You're kidding right?

What fun...another leftist.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson

We are a "stingy" country

We are a "stingy" country because we like to work to strength instead of appeal to weakness.

At least, that's the ideology you'll be encountering often here at Newsbusters. I suggest you get used to it.

 

------------------------------------------------------------

"It could be the answer to our age-old, philosophical question, 'Why are we here?' PLASTIC!"

the feds get about 25 cents

the feds get about 25 cents of a dollar to the beneficiary - so about 75 cents is admin

whereas charities get about 75 cents to the beneficiary, with about 25 cents to admin

it's not "stingy" to simply go with the most efficient organization, there is no point to wasting money - just like fuel, right?

think of Christian charities as the hybrids, and the fed would be a massive fleet of Hummers...

oooh, that's gotta hurt:)

Thank you

I have been looking around. I agree with some of the points here, but I find it a bit surprising that really important news isn't covered here.

As to posting, isn't it terribly boring if everyone posting on a board just agrees with everyone else on the board? I'm just looking for a bit of a debate. America needs to have more dialogue about what's going on. If you want the truth, both sides have some good points. I'm sure you'd agree that there are some crazy conservatives, but most conservatives are good people. The same is true of liberals. These terms really need to be eliminated. I feel like liberals and conservatives just stop listening to each other the minute they determine they aren't in the same group. So I am looking around the site and curious as to the arguments being put forth here.

anamerican, "I have been

anamerican,

"I have been looking around. I agree with some of the points here, but I
find it a bit surprising that really important news isn't covered here."

You might want to look at those little words under "NewsBusters" at the top of the page.

If you're going to post to a site, you might want to actually get what it's about.

we can certainly use more

we can certainly use more dialogue - especially within the MSM - non-liberal points are resoundingly derided as second-class ignorance...

Really important news...

What exactly do you consider really important news?

"Abstain from McCain"

You know what, I have not

You know what, I have not read any good journalism or seen any real news in a very long time. Everything I read has some slanted position to it.

Since you asked the question though, I have been giving it some serious thought.  The last time I learned something from the news was when NPR was playing at my job about 7 years back.  For the record, I hate NPR.  Those people are duller than dirt.  But you know what, from their daily news briefs, I got more information than I ever did on ABC, CBS or FOX. Thank you.  

»→ Real News

The Doo Wop Bop Tour, though entertainigly nostalgic, doesn't really qualify as "real news".

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE

Sorry I'm coming back to

Sorry I'm coming back to this old post, but here I was asked what I thought was real news.  Why hasn't any news been posted about what's happening with Iran?  Does noone think that recent events concerning Iran are alarming.  Most of the "news"  on this site is about smearing the Obamas, while trying not to mention McCain too much.  Doesn't anyone here think the prospect of war with Iran is a bit alarming?

 You can't have him? 

 You can't have him?  Then you can't stay! Get the hell out before you infect more of your offspring with that cowardice, yellow bellied gene.  I understand that this is only an actress portraying the part that moveon.org hopes a lot of Americans relate to, or aspire to be. But why would a true blue American even agree to play this part if they didn't feel this way?

You can't have him? We don't need him! Or you! Hopefully when this child grows up and sees what this woman has done in his/her name they will show the shame that they ought to to be a part of it, even unwillingly.  This ad is in the name of Obami, we know HE has no shame, he must be made to feel shame and humiliation for how he portrays our great country.

NOTE TO MOVE ON . ORG

When my daughter said she was going to join the Military and I said, please don't......guess what she said????

Mom, I'm joining the Military because I want to fight this enemy that attacked us on 9/11. and I want to fight to keep us free.

I said.....ok, I love you and I'll pray for you.

Thats what you say to your kids. You can't force them into the military, they won't take them. and you can't tell them what they can't do when they come of age.

Nice try moveon.org.......America is smarter then you. and our kids are the next greatest generation. You are old liberal hippy wienies.

THEIR ARE SOME WHO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM AND THEIR ARE SOME WHO ENJOY FREEDOM.

A MOTHER IN TEXAS

dear Prez

dear Prez Washington/Lincoln/Roosevelt...

You can't have my baby - I have petty partisan politics to think about instead - which is a whole lot more important to a selfish priveledged liberal like me than defending the free world - you see, freedom was handed to me on a silver platter by millions of brave leaders and soldiers before me - whose cherished beliefs I malign and attack now at every opportunity - many of them gave their lives for my freedom, I certainly didn't earn it, and really now don't deserve it - because I don't appreciate freedom, I don't understand how to create it, or maintain it - only how to piss on it for petty treasonous political gain...

So up yours, John - and all you brave freedom fighters throughout history:)

Sincerely,

The American Left

Even Mika

Even Mika agreed....wow...my heart be still!

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson

Not Alex!

Glad a couple high volume blogs picked up on this travesty. Here's my take from earlier today...

New MoveOn.org Ad Dumber, Less Relevant Than Science Thought Possible

 

http://posthumouslug...

The issue is not McCain, its Al Qaida stupid

First, if the USA is in Afghanistan or Iraq, or anywhere else 18 years from now:

  • it will not be McCain's fault, since even if elected, he will be out of office at least either 10 or 14 years before the 18 years have gone by and
  • if Al Qaida is still our enemy, still in existance and still a threat, then it makes sense, whether 18 years or 40 years from now, to keep going after those whose only mission in life is to kill Americans and others nationalities.

Second, unless there is a draft 18 years from now, any person fighting in anywhere in the world will be there by choice, while moveon.org implies somehow there will be no choice for a baby born now.

Finally, moveon.org has "moron" spokespersons, IMHO. Want proof? OK, you got it:

The vast majority of radical terrorist types do not give a damn about talks, carrot sticks, incentives, negotiations or anything else. They either want you dead or want you to convert. I do not see one moveon.org member becoming Muslim to appease terrorists and solve the problem, much less all moveon.org members. Therefore, they must be "morons" for not knowing they may be murdered one day by radical terrorists, unless they support the only other option to converting to Muslim, namely, kill or capture terrorists.

The other proof moveon.org has "morons" is that they cannot count, since even with McCain in for two terms, 8 years does not equal 18 years.

(Footnote: one has to distinquish radical terrorists from non-violent Muslims. The vast majority are non-violent.)

 

»→ Cheap Shot Ad?

It's only a cheap shot because we know, and the Dems know also, that the MSM will nt allow reciprocal ads from the Republicans.

It's also doubtful Republcans realize the depths to which they should sink to equal such an ad.

We need to throw out a few ideas.  How about.

A squirming babies in a can because Obama supports a doctor's right to choose even after the child is born.

Obama believes in unprotected sex or he wouldn't worry about his daughters being "punished with a baby"

Obama says Black fathers should be responsible parents but he wants to make unwed pregnancy even more affordable.

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE

Cool..You are so right with

Cool..You are so right with your suggestions..the msm... all of them would never allow them on...you know it, I know it, sad what we have come to in this country eh?

Facts are facts...but we cannot state them, express them in any single way.

Look at 9-11...we are all just too sensitive to seeing reality on the television screen, because they say so...yet they show the blood and guts when they decide to, unless it is the reality to remind people of what happened on 9-11...you know..just the facts. 

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson

»→ Change we can perish with

Now Obama wants to "change" how we treat terrorism.

His "change" is going back to the Clinton approach of catching and prosecuting the guy who lights the fuse only.  That approach got us 9-11 from the same people who launched the first WTC bombing.

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE

Quiz for Obama... How

Quiz for Obama...

How many cops will it take to arrest Bin Laden?

"Abstain from McCain"

Eisenhower

  It was Eisenhower's fault.

  Jan 19, 1960. The signing of the Status of Forces Agreement for U.S Forces Japan. Authorizing permanent military bases in Japan.

  Mon. Day. 1963. Little JWF was born.

 Sep 1994. JWF ordered to Japan for 3 year tour.

 63 years later, we are still there! Somebody has to pay! ohhh. I am so mad. Where was moveon in 1963 with it's commercials protecting little JWF?

Correct me if I'm wrong..

That agreement was signed to give America a military presence in Japan after the war was finished and Japan agreed to no longer have a standing army. So basically those bases are to protect Japan, which America had promised to protect in lieu of Japan protecting themselves. If I'm right about this, then you are missing the point. Last I checked, Iraq is working on creating their own army. If our army is there for 100+ years (highly doubtful, but let's just say the next 20 or so), then I don't think it will be in the same capacity as our military presence in Japan. I hope I'm wrong, but something tells me that the situation in the Middle East is not quite the same as the situation in Japan. It seems to me that it would be more like the situation in Europe, where our military
maintained it's presence to intimidate and check our then arch-enemy
the Soviet Union. What do you think?

ok you're wrong

   The presence of bases was a check on the soviet union.

   The presence of bases in Iraq will be similar. A check on Iran.

It is more than that.

  It is about having a presence in the area. We are a superpower, have been since 1945. Something comes up. Boom we are right there. It takes days at top speed for our carriers to cross the Atlantic and even more for the Pacific.

Remember, folks...

...they're just stupid, that's all.

 

------------------------------------------------------------

"It could be the answer to our age-old, philosophical question, 'Why are we here?' PLASTIC!"

Casey Sheehan

Sometimes the sons (and daughters), when they grow up, have more commitment and honor then their parents. An excellent example of this is the life and death of Casey Sheehan, the son of anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan. Against his mother’s wishes, Casey Sheehan enlisted in the Army in May 2000 when he was twenty years old. He re-enlisted in the Army in 2004 fully aware that he could be sent into a combat zone. On the day he died he volunteered as part of a Quick Reaction Force to rescue American troops in Sadr City. Casey was killed when his vehicle was hit with RPGs and automatic- weapons fire. Casey Sheehan was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his valor that day.

 

Which political party is invested in our defeat in Iraq?