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Unaired McCain Spot Blasts Rev. Wright

Attack ad surfaces, but GOP candidate refused to run it

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 9, 2008 5:58 AM CST

(Newser) – John McCain's campaign created a commercial slamming Barack Obama for his relationship with inflammatory pastor Jeremiah Wright. The 30-second spot, obtained by ABC News, contrasts McCain's years in a Vietnam POW camp with footage of Wright shouting "God damn America." The commercial was ready for release and even includes the tag, "I'm John McCain and I approve this message."

Many in the McCain campaign, including Sarah Palin, encouraged the candidate to attack Obama for his past with Wright, particularly as the campaign faltered. But McCain refused, leaving third-party advertisers to produce their own spots. Steve Schmidt, McCain's chief campaign strategist, said that the candidate "never saw the ad and it was never considered for air, period."

Barack Obama poses with Rev. Jeremiah Wright in Chicago. Obama resigned his 20-year membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ in the aftermath of inflammatory remarks by his longtime pastor.
Barack Obama poses with Rev. Jeremiah Wright in Chicago. Obama resigned his 20-year membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ in the aftermath of inflammatory remarks by his longtime pastor.   (AP Photo/Trinity United Church of Christ, File)
Rev. Jeremiah A Wright Jr, pastor of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, addresses a breakfast gathering at the National Press Club in Washington earlier this year.
Rev. Jeremiah A Wright Jr, pastor of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, addresses a breakfast gathering at the National Press Club in Washington earlier this year.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Sen. John McCain speaks during a press conference at the US Embassy in New Delhi, India, last week.
Sen. John McCain speaks during a press conference at the US Embassy in New Delhi, India, last week.   (AP Photo/Mustafa Quraishi)
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An unaired advertisement produced by the McCain campaign attacks Barack Obama for his association with Jeremiah Wright, his former pastor.   (Subscribe4MoreNews)

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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Shannonals
Dec 9, 2008 9:39 PM CST
Corona_king, for once you are correct Sen McCain is an honorable man, however sometimes even an honorable man strays from the path of righteousness. Forget not that Sen. McCain put his own team together, and authorized them to conduct ads in his name.

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