Obama Launches Spanish Ad Attacking McCain on Immigration

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 04:26:19 PM EST
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Dos Caras...Two-Faced. That's the theme of Sen. Barack Obama's new ad airing in Spanish in Colorado and New Mexico.

The Obama campaign has released new radio and TV ads in Spanish that seek to tie Sen. John McCain to anti-immigrant comments made by radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh. The ads also suggest the Republican has "dos caras" -- "two faces" -- when it comes to his relations with Latino voters. The new messages, airing in Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico, come in response to recent Spanish-language ads by the McCain campaign that suggest Obama is responsible for the collapse of last year's bipartisan immigration reform efforts.

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Ad highlights:

"They want us to forget the insults we've put up with, the intolerance," the television ad's announcer says in Spanish as a picture of Rush Limbaugh appears onscreen with quotes of him saying, "Mexicans are stupid and unqualified" and "Shut your mouth or get out."

"They made us feel marginalized in a country we love so much," the ad continues. "John McCain and his Republican friends have two faces. One that says lies just to get our vote and another, even worse, that continues the failed policies of George Bush that put special interests ahead of working families."

Concluding message:

"Don't forget that John McCain abandoned us rather than confront the leaders of the Republican Party. Many of us were born here, and others came to work and achieve a better life for their families -- not to commit crimes or drain the system like many of John McCain's friends claim. Let's not be fooled by political tricks from John McCain and the Republicans. Vote so they respect us. Vote for a change."

This is a fight that McCain began Friday with his attack ad on Obama.

The Post today says the Obama campaign will push hard for the Latino vote.

A July survey by the Pew Hispanic Center gave Obama a wide lead over McCain nationwide among Latino voters, and Democrats don't plan to let the lead slip.
"Whenever we get a punch from Senator McCain, we're going to counterpunch harder," former transportation secretary Federico Pena said on the conference call. "We're not going to take any vote for granted."

Obama plans to begin airing ads in Florida next week.

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Obama Launches Spanish Ad Attacking McCain on Immigration | 46 comments (46 topical)

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Heh (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by Steve M on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 04:29:20 PM EST

That's a harder-hitting ad than most of the English-language ones!

Accuracy? (5.00 / 0) (#31)
by christinep on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:34:38 PM EST

ABC's Jake Tapper has an analysis. Its along the lines of McCain may have a lot of faults to attack, but this "es erroneo."


Tapper (5.00 / 1) (#37)
by Dawn Davenport on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:48:27 PM EST

But even if one is uninclined to see Limbaugh's quotes as having been taken unfairly out of context, linking them to McCain makes as much sense as running a quote from Bill Maher and linking it to Obama.
*
By linking McCain to Limbaugh's quotes, twisting Limbaugh's quotes, and tying McCain to more extremist anti-immigration voices, the Obama campaign has crossed a line into misleading the viewers of its new TV ad. In Spanish, the word is erróneo.

I'm so glad there are still a handful of intellectually honest journalists like Tapper and Ambinder.


Yeah (none / 0) (#44)
by Steve M on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 07:00:35 PM EST

When a Democratic Vice-President of the United States makes regular appearances on Bill Maher's show in order to reach the Democratic base - as Cheney does with Limbaugh's show - then I'll consider it fair game to fit Bill Maher within the Democratic mainstream. Until then, not so much.

Tapper sometimes continues to suffer from the journalistic syndrome which causes people to believe that because McCain is so full of mavericky goodness, it's somehow an unfair attack to treat him like he's a Republican.


Not sure what... (none / 0) (#46)
by NYShooter on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 08:06:20 PM EST

...you said, or meant.

Like, if they distort and lie,

so should we?


: No (5.00 / 1) (#48)
by Steve M on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 08:18:53 PM EST

I don't consider it a distortion in the slightest.
John McCain is a Republican and he carries the baggage of associating with that party. Any day the Republicans want to rid themselves of Rush Limbaugh is fine with me, but they haven't yet.

WOW...VERY aggresive add, (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by LatinoDC on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 04:44:06 PM EST

the quotes at the beginning are really going to work with Latinos...

Aye dios mio! (5.00 / 0) (#13)
by LatinoVoter on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:04:08 PM EST

What does what Rush said have to do with McCain? Frankly, I find this ad disgusting and insulting. As a Latino I wish he'd wouldn't use us like this. This ad reeks of race-baiting similar to the Spanish ad that his supporters ran against Hillary that said she didn't "respect our people."

I'm sure if McCain ran ads with what Obama's friends and colleagues in Chicago have said about Mexicans you'd be in full outrage mode.

This is sick.

Being part Latino... (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by Thanin on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:12:41 PM EST

living in Oklahoma, one of the biggest bible belt states (just look at our senators), I can attest the base of republicans hate Hispanics. They always have and they always will. They want us out of this country. They always have and they always will. mccain represents the republican party. If he were really concerned about how vile republicans are, he wouldnt be one.


I don't care that the Republican base (5.00 / 0) (#25)
by LatinoVoter on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:25:23 PM EST

hates me. I do care about two parties who use us for votes and to create tensions between us and whites and African-Americans. This ad just does that. I would appreciate it if both parties stopped insulting our collective intelligence.


As a fellow Latino (5.00 / 0) (#29)
by rooge04 on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:30:25 PM EST

I completely disagree. I don't feel used actually. No more than any other voting block. And if you think both parties use us you're wrong. Democrats espouse our concerns better. They always have. Many of my family members became legal when Bill signed that immigration bill in 1996. We can be disappointed in many things, but Republicans have never ever been on our side. Don't forget that. The party elders may not hate us...but they gladly accept the bigots, racists, immigrant-haters that do.


They espouse our concerns (none / 0) (#36)
by LatinoVoter on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:47:35 PM EST

better but do little about them. Or has there been some massive immigration reform since the Democrats gained control that I'm not familiar with? Neither party is great to or for us and yes both of them use us. One is just better at hiding that they're using us than the other. And as a Latino who didn't support Barack Obama in the primary I can sadly say that I faced more racism from fellow Democrats during the span of the primary than I have ever from Republicans.


: I was (an am) a HUGE (none / 0) (#39)
by rooge04 on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:50:27 PM EST

Hillary supporter. I, too, was insulted my members of my own party. See, the thing is the Democrats are the only ones that care a little bit more about us and immigrant rights. I truly believe that. I have been sorely disappointed, but it doesn't change to me that they will never ever be the GOP on the issue. Look at what the party did to their own leader, Bush, when he attempted to pass immigration reform. I've never heard such filth from people with regards to immigrants as then.

I'm sorry you feel this way (none / 0) (#15)
by Lil on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:09:18 PM EST

really, it is hard to convey sincerity in writing, but I mean it. As for Rush, he has everything to do with the Republican party, which is McCain's party. Old saying: Show me your friends and I'll tell you who you are.


and yes, (none / 0) (#16)
by Lil on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:10:04 PM EST

I would be outraged if Obama's "friends" said these things.


You really don't (none / 0) (#22)
by LatinoVoter on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:22:29 PM EST

want to play the game of "show me your friends and I'll tell you who you are." Really, seriously. Considering the friends that Barack has it doesn't make him look any better than McCain.

I'd post some of the things said about Latinos by two local politicians that Barack endorsed but it would just get deleted. If McCain were to use that in an ad it wouldn't be cool and it wouldn't be accepted by anyone here.


: no I don't want to play that game. (none / 0) (#24)
by Lil on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:23:58 PM EST

show me your friends (none / 0) (#38)
by christinep on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:50:05 PM EST

Yes. I've been going back & forth with my husband on the subject of who are friends are and what they say about us. My conclusion so far: We all have an idiosyncracy or two--including interesting friends. But, it is important to take a look at the closest associates surrounding someone (a candidate) on both sides. Any common traits? Do they tell us anything (relatives excluded)?


why doesn't (2.00 / 0) (#3)
by NYShooter on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 04:48:59 PM EST

he play the quotes?

"Mexicans are stupid and unqualified" and "Shut your mouth or get out."

Um ... (none / 0) (#4)
by eustiscg on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 05:20:04 PM EST

'cause they're in English?


Lemme try it... (none / 0) (#9)
by NYShooter on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 05:53:26 PM EST

...a different way.

ARE there tapes of Limbaugh saying thos things?


Yes... (none / 0) (#11)
by Brillo on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 05:57:01 PM EST

There are tapes of Rush saying everything. I'm sure Media Matters has them stashed away somewhere. Hell, they may be on Youtube.

Are you trying to imply that the Obama campaign is making these quotes up?


: No... (none / 0) (#47)
by NYShooter on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 08:11:32 PM EST

....just wondering how much cut and paste, out of context, distortion gleaned from a talk show host's comments, then superimposing them onto John McCain as if though he said them is o.k?

because they are taken slightly (none / 0) (#53)
by JoeA on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:25:39 AM EST

out of context.


This ad is incendiary (2.00 / 0) (#40)
by mexboy on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:50:28 PM EST

I had a strong reaction to the words calling Mexicans stupid and telling us to shut our mouth or leave.

The only thing McCain has to do is put out another ad saying it was a radio host not associated with him who said those things, that he disagrees with him and that he has been at the forefront of immigration reform and this ad will be ineffective.

Although I agree that a lot of republicans hate Mexicans, I still find this ad misleading and race baiting.

Obama should have stuck to the facts on this one because it could stir racial animosity and McCain never said those things.

This post is my opinion.

Helpful tip: try a search first (1.00 / 2) (#6)
by LonewackoDotCom on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 05:35:13 PM EST

It might be helpful for TL to point out that the BHO ad lies about those Rush quotes.

It took me all of fifteen minutes to write the first part of that post, including the time I spent searching.

Pfft... (5.00 / 0) (#7)
by Thanin on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 05:41:34 PM EST

I dont care how yo spin it, this is a vile thing to say, which is what rush said:

"If you are unskilled and uneducated, your job is going south. Skilled workers, educated people are going to do fine 'cause those are the kinds of jobs NAFTA is going to create. If we are going to start rewarding no skills and stupid people, I'm serious, let the unskilled jobs that take absolutely no knowledge whatsoever to do -- let stupid and unskilled Mexicans do that work."


your own post doesn't back you up (5.00 / 2) (#8)
by Jeralyn on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 05:42:29 PM EST

according to you, Rush said:

If we are going to start rewarding no skills and stupid people, I'm serious, let the unskilled jobs that take absolutely no knowledge whatsoever to do -- let stupid and unskilled Mexicans do that work."

You think it matters he wasn't referring to all Mexicans. It doesn't. Attacking anyone as stupid based upon their nationality is offensive and bigoted.


Nor is Rush's defense (5.00 / 1) (#21)
by Jeralyn on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:19:44 PM EST

of his remarks as being taken out of context persuasive.

ESPN GETS WHAT IT DESERVES IN RUSH OF POISONOUS VENOM St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri) October 3, 2003

A few years ago, a media watchdog group, Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR), compiled a rather revealing list of quotes from Limbaugh that were shamefully racist. I don't have enough room in my column to give you everything, but here's an illuminating slice of the body of Limbaugh's work:

His first foray into sports analysis was this little gem. After a world-class Mexican runner won the New York Marathon, the only analysis that Limbaugh could come up with was, "an immigration agent chased him the last 10 miles."

In the 1970s, Limbaugh told a black caller to his radio show, "take that bone out of our nose and call me back."

When commenting on Americans losing jobs as a result of NAFTA, Limbaugh's solution to that was: "Let the unskilled jobs, let the kinds of jobs that take absolutely no knowledge whatsoever to do, let stupid and unskilled Mexicans do that work."

Shortly before the opening of his bio-picture "Malcolm X," filmmaker Spike Lee said that African-American children should be allowed to skip school to see the movie about this significant historical figure. Limbaugh responded with this little pearl: "Spike, if you're going to do that, let's complete the education experience. You should tell them that they should loot the theater, and then blow it up on their way out."

Why it matters (1.00 / 2) (#10)
by LonewackoDotCom on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 05:54:52 PM EST

It matters that Rush wasn't refering to all Mexicans because that's what the Obama ad implies.

The full quote from Rush also makes it clear that he thinks there are "stupid and unskilled" Americans; those are the ones whose jobs would be going south. He was only singling out Mexicans in that case because they were one of the other parties to NAFTA; if Canada had a large pool of uneducated people he would have singled out them as well.

What Rush said is certainly not going to make his highlight reel, but it isn't racist, and it doesn't apply to all Mexicans.


Seriously? (5.00 / 2) (#12)
by Thanin on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:02:41 PM EST

The last line of the quote is rush saying Mexicans are, quote "stupid and unskilled". Sorry but thats what he said, and that is definitely racist.


I honestly wonder (5.00 / 0) (#14)
by Lil on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:06:52 PM EST

how bad the Republicans would have to get in word and deed for some people to admit that they say and do really way over the top things.


What did Thanin just say? (1.00 / 0) (#20)
by LonewackoDotCom on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:17:47 PM EST

Thanin just said Mexicans are, quote "stupid and unskilled"!

Oh, wait, he didn't. See, context matters.


: Sorry... (5.00 / 0) (#45)
by Thanin on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 07:42:08 PM EST

but thats just a pathetic response. Even with context rush was being racist.
Youre really going to the mat for him on this huh?

He was singling out (none / 0) (#28)
by rooge04 on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:28:07 PM EST

"Mexicans" because he's a racist bigot. That's why.

And by "Mexicans" he meant Latinos is general. Every time I am disappointed in my party I see the evidence of the utter filth that the Republicans espouse as their own and I'm all fired up again.


Oh please (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by coigue on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:16:42 PM EST

it's just as offensive and the meaning is the same.


That ad may work (none / 0) (#5)
by justonevoice on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 05:22:38 PM EST

with the younger Latinos two fold: a lot of the younger Latinos, of voting age, may have undocumented family members who have been targeted by right wing haters.

Since Obama does well with the youth, this could help.

Older latinos sympathize with the immigration movement. It was evident during the immigration rallies that drew hundreds of thousands. I am a former student of Dr Juan Hernandez, professor emeritus of UT-Dallas, where I got my undergrad, is McCain's Hispanic Outreach Director. Dr Hernandez espouses what the right calls "open-borders". The right has been on a witch hunt for Dr Hernandez.

Dr. Hernandez, a US citizen, served in President Vincente Fox's cabinet. Make no mistake, when Dr. Hernandez speaks about McCain, Latinos that I know of do listen. How well will play out in November. Didn't hurt that McCain participated in the Univision debates as well.

And then you have that WHOLE group of Latinos who were rallied by Johnny Canales for Hillary Clinton down in South TX who, when you ask most of these Latinos,they say they will never vote for Obama.

I think the ad is strong, but there's a LOT of work to be done.

How exactly is Rush connected... (none / 0) (#17)
by EL seattle on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:10:12 PM EST

... to the McCain campaign? Has McCain been a frequent guest on Rush's show?

Was McCain the one who guided Limbaugh's views on immigration? (I thought that until only recently they were on different sides of that issue.)

: When the Republican Party... (none / 0) (#23)
by Steve M on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:23:49 PM EST

stops associating with Rush Limbaugh, then Republicans will stop getting tarred with the things Rush says, I suspect.

I don't want to derail the thread (none / 0) (#26)
by shoephone on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:27:04 PM EST

The next time you put up an open thread, or a thread on the bailouts, the Seattle Times is reporting that WaMu is now being prepped to be sold...

Rush's long history of such comments (none / 0) (#30)
by Jeralyn on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:30:32 PM EST

Limbaugh has history of racial comments The Tennessean October 5, 2003 (Lexis.com)

Rush Limbaugh has a made a career out of spreading lies and besmirching those who disagree with him. His distortions are documented in several books, the best of which is The Way Things Aren't: Rush Limbaugh's Reign of Error compiled by Fairness & Accuracy in Media.
....Limbaugh mocked the NAACP, saying "The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies." When Democrat Carol Moseley-Braun of Illinois was in the U.S. Senate, the first black woman ever elected to that body, he played the Movin' On Up theme song from TV's The Jeffersons. Once, in response to a caller arguing that black people need to be heard, Limbaugh responded: "They are 12% of the population. Who the hell cares?"

Agreed, Limbaugh is a gold-plated... (5.00 / 2) (#41)
by EL seattle on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:52:21 PM EST

...clown of the n-th degree of loathsome-ness.

But is he really McCain's Best Friend Forever? This ad seems to suggest that, but if there's actually a history of antagonism between these two guys, then ads like this one might lose credibility for Obama with the very audiences they're directed towards.

This ad seems like a "boy who cried wolf" exaggeration to me, and another distraction from reality-based criticisms of the republican campaign. (In my opinion, anyway.)


agreed 100% (2.00 / 0) (#42)
by mexboy on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:57:36 PM EST

Where's the Obama who was going to bring a different kind of politics? I'm still waiting for him to unite us.


: Thanin (none / 0) (#51)
by mexboy on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 12:52:18 AM EST

Why is it that you keep giving me 2 ratings?
What exactly do you disagree with in my posts, and why don't you voice your disagreement instead of hiding behind 2 ratings?

Rush may (none / 0) (#50)
by Linda Liberty on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 08:31:14 PM EST

have said those things (or not, the man is not worth my time to listen to his program) but it is the policies of Bush which really drove home Rush's message. And McCain is marching in lockstep with Bush, like a good Nazi.


All I Can Say (none / 0) (#49)
by Linda Liberty on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 08:29:20 PM EST

is, "Si, se puede!" Viva Obama!