McCain camp to Obama: Wanna play “guilt by association”? Let’s go there

The Obama campaign released [correction: will release tomorrow] the below ad in Georgia that strains to link Senator McCain to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. 

CNN reports on the ad here:

The 30-second spot is the Obama campaign’s second negative ad in the past 24 hours. It attacks the Arizona senator for his association with former Christian Coalition head Ralph Reed, one of the Republicans implicated in the scandal.

The ad also seems to suggest McCain didn’t call Reed to testify before a Senate panel he chaired in return for political favors.

“When the Senate investigated, the senator in charge never even called Reed to testify….And that senator? John McCain. And who’s now raising money for McCain’s campaign? Ralph Reed,” the ad’s narrator says. “For 26 years in Washington, John McCain’s played the same old games. We just can’t afford more of the same.”

In response, here is what McCain spokesman Brian Rogers had to say in response:

“Barack Obama’s ad is ridiculous. Because of John McCain, corruption was exposed and people like Jack Abramoff went to jail.

“However, if Barack Obama wants to have a discussion about truly questionable associations, let’s start with his relationship with the unrepentant terrorist William Ayers, at whose home Obama’s political career was reportedly launched. Mr. Ayers was a leader of the Weather Underground, a terrorist group responsible for countless bombings against targets including the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon and numerous police stations, courthouses and banks. In recent years, Mr. Ayers has stated, ‘I don’t regret setting bombs … I feel we didn’t do enough.’

“The question now is, will Barack Obama immediately call on the University of Illinois to release all of the records they are currently withholding to shed further light on Senator Obama’s relationship with this unrepentant terrorist?”

Zing.

Unfortunately for the Obama campaign, they clearly haven’t learned that if you’re going to engage in a battle of wits, it’s best you come armed with more than just a lofty speech.

Hat tip: Stop The ACLU