(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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Rush is a cry baby....
So much for your promise of running a clean campaign Obama. English, Spanish, Chinese – whatever the language you're just as dirty as any other politician.
I love republicans! They can dish it out, but can't take it when its thrown right back at them!! Me thinks they dost protest too much!!
McCain has a point...or at least, he would have had a point if he hadn't said he would now vote against his own immigration bill because he caved into the far-right-wing of his party. Now, it's perfectly appropriate to attack him for his stance(s) on immigration.
McLimbaugh is a joke!
Why is McCain Running for President?
Hear it straight from the horse's mouth in McCain's 2002 book, “Worth the Fighting For”:
"I didn't decide to run for president to start a national crusade for the political reforms I believed in or to run a campaign as if it were some grand act of patriotism. In truth, I wanted to be president because it had become my ambition to be president. I was sixty-two years old
when I made the decision and I thought it was my one shot at the prize."
McCain is a JOKE! Palin? Don't even get started!
*CNN, you've gotta post this!!!*
McCain redux has stated he would not vote for his own 2007 immigration bill today. The difference? Now he's trying to get conservative votes.
So how exactly is Obama's ad "lying"?
HaHaHa... You've been called out. Nothing can stop this movement.
Sorry but the truth is the truth! The Republicans have quite a nerve after the nasty, lying ads they continue to run! Thanks but no thanks to the Republicans!
LMAO! Limbaugh calling someone else a "disgrace"! Talk about that ol' kettle. Limbaugh and his buddy Rove have been destroying this country for 20+ years. They stand for everything the Founders abhorred, and mock the millions of Americans who have fought and died for this nation. That Limbaugh of all people accuses Obama of stirring up race issues and "digging up dirt" is just beyond laughable.
Rush, crawl back down your hole and shut up. You're pathetic.
David
Hey Dems, how's that holier than thou attitude now?
No apologies! We are taking no POWs. Not so nice when other people play hardball right?
Obama/Biden all the way!!!!
the ad is truthful.
republicans will tear latino families apart.
The ad is true. Limbaugh is cheerleading for McCain while spouting this insanity. Obama is winning Latinos 60-30. They know what is up.
Maybe McCain should denounce and reject this looney toon.
Limbaugh crying foul
what an ironic spectacle
Rush Limbaugh thinks the use of his own words in an ad are 'race-baiting'
Interesting perspective.
But critics note McCain shifted his own policy on immigration as the Republican presidential primary race heated up, advocating a "security first" approach.
SO it is offensive that obama runs an ad that basicly says that McCain is liar, but it is OK fro McCain to run false ads?
McCain changed his policy to fit the party line, to get votes, and he says he is a maverick,....not any more...he is an old worn out policitan of the worst kind.
As to the issue that Obama is using the "race" card. The man is bi-racial! For the high information voter, he is a person of color as well as Caucasian! For low information voters, he is half black and half white and for the Bubba’s he was a “swirl baby” before he grew up to be “uppity”(arrogant is another favorite word for uppity). Now, hopefully we are all on the same page as to the meaning of bi-racial,
So unless you are a little green alien from Mars(hopefully, a small voting bloc), the cries of racist are not justified.
Well, maybe one very fat, bald, old, drug addicted racist is the exception.
BE A MAN!, Limbaugh. Somebody, give some lipstick!
Well if the shoe fits wear it McCain. We all know that the republicans don't want the hispanics here.
Barack Obama is a socialist who wants to take from people making more than 200,000/year and give to those making less than 40,000. Additionally, he would raise the capital gains tax and the corperate income tax. With Obama in charge, be prepared for our economy to look like France's.
For Limbaugh to accuse someone of race-baiting and dishonesty is hilarious. What a hypocritical windbag.
I guess it is only O.K for Pigs like Rush and Sean Hannity to lie to
the idiots they pander to.
John McCain would sell the latino community (and the rest of us)
down the river to please his base and gain power...
If "stranger Danger" is kindergarten Sex ed. then McCain hates Latinos
Time to pay the piper Limbaugh, Words do matter...
BE A MAN!, Limbaugh. Somebody, give him some lipstick!
Come on, people. McCain doesn't even know the difference between Spain, Mexico, or any Latin American country. Go find his response to questions about whether he would be willing to meet with the President of Spain. (He proceeded to talk about Latin America.)