McCain’s Double-Talk Express Hits Tennessee

Despite John McCain’s previous outrage at the idea that Republicans might be exploiting racial divisions for political gain, the Senator apparently has no problem paying people who do just that. McCain strategist Terry Nelson approved an ad running against African American Senate candidate Harold Ford that experts say plays on fears of interracial dating and “makes the Willie Horton ad look like child’s play.” McCain has not explicitly denounced the ad, and has announced that Terry Nelson – a man who he has praised as “a fine man” – will stay on his payroll.

“John McCain is clearly so blinded by his presidential ambitions he will do or say anything,” said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney. “Why else would he bring the tactics of the GOP's despicable southern strategy in house and praise Terry Nelson? The doubletalk from McCain never stops, time and again his actions just don't match his previously stated ‘convictions.’ If John McCain truly opposes using racial issues and despicable tactics as a political weapon he should fire Terry Nelson immediately and denounce the ad.”

See below for a new document from DNC Research:

MCCAIN KEEPS STRATEGIST WHO PRODUCED RACIST AD ON PAYROLL

McCain Said He Was “Angry” About Accusations That Republicans Were Exploiting Racial Divisions. “Obviously, it made me very angry, especially to accuse Republicans of exploiting racial divisions in America,” McCain said. [Washington Post, 1/26/97]

Experts, Republicans Say Ad is Racist:

• Specialist in Political Advertising Said Ad Makes Willie Horton Ad "Look Like Child's Play." John Geer, a professor at Vanderbilt University and a specialist in political advertising, said that it "is playing to a lot of fears" and "frankly makes the Willie Horton ad look like child's play." [New York Times, 10/26/06]

• Washington Head of NAACP Said Ad Plays On Fears of Interracial Dating. Hilary Shelton, Washington director of the NAACP, said the ad plays off fears some people still have about interracial couples. "In a Southern state like Tennessee, some stereotypes still exist," he said. "There's very clearly some racial subtext in an ad like that." [CBS, 10/26/06]

• William Cohen Said Ad Was Overtly Racist. William Cohen, a Republican and former Defense Secretary, said, "I think the Republicans have to be careful also in terms of not engaging in conduct -- and I was watching the Tennessee race specifically. It reminded me of what happened in North Carolina with Harvey Gantt, a purely over-racist approach." [CNN, 10/25/06]

Racist Ad Approved By Terry Nelson, Senior McCain Strategist. Terry Nelson, a senior strategist for McCain, is the head of the independent expenditures operation for the RNC. Nelson, as head of that operation, is responsible for the content of the advertisements run by that part of the RNC. Despite Nelson’s role in approving the ad, McCain strategist John Weaver said that Straight Talk America had no intention of firing him. [New York Times, 10/27/06]

RNC Still Running Ad With Racist Overtones, Despite McCain Strategist’s Statement That it Was Off the Air. Senior McCain strategist John Weaver said on October 26, “We’re pleased that the ad has been pulled down.” However, the Tennessean reported that “A negative campaign ad against Harold Ford Jr. that critics have denounced as having racist overtones will continue airing in the Chattanooga area, despite the head of the Republican National Committee’s statement today that the ad was off the air.” The ad aired Wednesday in the Nashville market and will continue to air in Chattanooga, because the station did not want to run the Republicans' replacement commercial “Shaky”, saying that it raised some “‘very serious moral concerns’ among higher-ups at the station.” [CNN, 10/25/06; Tennessean, 10/25/06, 10/26/06]

MCCAIN’S DOUBLETALK EXPRESS GEARS UP FOR 2008

McCain Denounces Swift Boat Ads – But Then Hires The People Who Helped Produce Them. Speaking out against the attack ads run against John Kerry in 2004 by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, McCain said, "I deplore this kind of politics" and added "I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable." McCain compared it to attacks against his campaign in 2000, saying, "it was the same kind of deal that was pulled on me." Terry Nelson’s firm employs Chris LaCivita, who helped produce the Swift Boat ads that McCain denounced in 2004. [AP, 8/5/04; New York Times, 10/27/06]

McCain Investigates Abramoff and DeLay’s Shady Dealings – But Then Hires Terry Nelson, Who Served As Middleman in DeLay TRMPAC Money Laundering Scheme. McCain’s Senate investigation into Jack Abramoff was considered to be one of two “investigative bombs with a long fuse…sizzling under Tom DeLay.” Despite that, McCain had no qualms about hiring Terry Nelson, who served as the middleman in the other scandal brewing around DeLay – the TRMPAC scandal. Nelson was named in the indictment on that matter, and had to testify in court. Despite that, McCain said that he had “no qualms” about Nelson’s ethics. [The Nation, 10/11/06; Austin American-Statesman, 9/14/05; Travis County District Court Bill of Indictment, Thomas Dale DeLay, 9/28/05; CQ Weekly, 3/20/2004; San Antonio Express-News, 3/15/2004; Austin American-Statesman, 2/26/2004; FEC,4/8/2004; Texas Ethics Commission, 4/8/2004; AP, 3/20/04; Houston Chronicle, 10/15/05; Cox News Service, 4/3/06]