(CNN) - A Republican congressman and supporter of John McCain called a Spanish television ad from the Obama campaign "offensive and dishonest" Thursday, and said the Democratic nominee owes the Latino community an apology.
"It is offensive and dishonest for Barack Obama to lie about John McCain's record on immigration and years of support for the Hispanic community, when it was Barack Obama himself who voted for 'poison pill' amendments that killed the effort at immigration reform. Instead of making false ads with baseless attacks, Barack Obama should be apologizing to the Latino community," Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart said in statement released by the McCain campaign.
The Spanish-language ad, launched earlier this week, aims to connect McCain to Republicans who have staked out staunch anti-illegal immigration stances - including talk radio host Rush Limbaugh.
"They want us to forget the insults we've put up with, the intolerance," the television ad's narrator says in Spanish as an image of Limbaugh is quoted 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 narrator 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."
But McCain has repeatedly disagreed with his party's base on the issue of immigration and was a chief sponsor of an immigration reform bill last year that deeply angered conservatives and nearly sunk his campaign for the presidency. The Arizona senator is also no favorite of Limbaugh, particularly for seeming to take a moderate stance on illegal immigration. But critics note McCain shifted his own policy on immigration as the Republican presidential primary race heated up, advocating a "security first" approach.
Limbaugh also took issue with the ad, telling the Politico it had taken his past statements - one of which is 15 years old - out of context and was an attempt at "race baiting."
"Obama is now stoking racism in the country," Limbaugh said. "Obama is a disgrace - he wants the public to think he is Mr. Nice Guy while his thugs are in Alaska looking for dirt on Palin and he runs race-baiting ads and lies about what he has done and what McCain has done."
From CNN Politics
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Mr Limbaugh, you are the last person who should ever talk about race baiting.
cry me a river
What is that disgusting thing next to Obama in that picture?
McCain staff is a bunch of CRY BABY WHINERS
That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare! That's not fare!
GOP, if you can't say it to their face, in an election year, then don't make it policy.
GOP = lies.
GOP = rich.
GOP hides in oil.
John McCain said in April that he wouldn't vote for the bill he himself wrote.
Rush shut your mouth or get out!
It is not race baiting. It is fact. McCain caved with the republicans because they were aganist he immigration bill. McCain said he would not vote for his own immigration bill. I am confused. Is McCain for an immigration bill or not? Second, fact check already said that the republicans killed the immigration bill.
The TRUTH HURTS LIMBAUGH IS A RACIST PIG THAT SHOULD BE CENSORED !!!!!!!!
"Obama is now stoking racism in the country," Limbaugh said. "Obama is a disgrace — he wants the public to think he is Mr. Nice Guy while his thugs are in Alaska looking for dirt on Palin and he runs race-baiting ads and lies about what he has done and what McCain has done."
------------------
His thugs?!!! Pot meet kettle........Using the term "thugs" sounds a little racist to me.......
Obama the divider...
I re-read the transcript from Rush's show and it was right on and had nothing to do with race.
Basically, if you aren't contributing to our society and are leeching off our social programs, then you're not welcome.
when did Limbaugh get out of rehap ?
Careful fat drug addict, you are throwing out race when your rally cry is sexism.... Don't change your message!
A REUPUBLICAN CALLING OBAMA'S ADS "OFFENSIVE AND DISHONEST".
IF THAT WEREN'T SO PATHETIC IT WOULD BE HYSTERICALLY FUNNY!
Ahhh, Rash Limpblah accusing Obama of race baiting. It's official, we've seen it all.
This from the man that refers to Obama, a US Senator and nominee for President of the United States, as "little black man-child."
Obama thinks that if he preaches against "the white man". Spanish people will follow along blindly like his people do..
Rush Limbaugh calling someone else a "disgrace"? I can't think of anyone else besides him that more diserves being called that...... He can dish it out......
Rush must be off his meds again! Talk about stoking racism, nobody better at it than the ReThugs!
The fact remains.... many Republicans do feel this way.
I THOUGHT ROVE AND LIMBAUGH WERE ONE IN THE SAME.
DEFINITELY SEPARATED AT BIRTH! SPOOKY!
A taste of Mr. Limpballs own medicine.
You've got to be kidding me. Rush Limbaugh calling someone out for being dishonest and divisive? Aren't Americans sick of this kind of crap yet?
McCain 2008 needs to have a debate with McCain 2000 to decide what he believes in before he cries foul over this.
No way Barrack is going to apologize to those sleaze bags. They deserve a taste of their own medicine.
Rush is accusing someone of stoking racism?
What next, Michael Phelps bad-mouthing swimming?