October 25, 2008
Posted: October 25th, 2008 02:30 PM ET

From
A new RNC tv ad argues that Sen. Obama is too inexperienced to captain the nation through the rough seas that it faces right now.
A new RNC tv ad argues that Sen. Obama is too inexperienced to captain the nation through the rough seas that it faces right now.

(CNN) – Like the recent gyrations of the stock market, the new television ad from the Republican National Committee is almost enough to make you feel seasick.

“Storm” is not fancy. The 30-second spot is composed of little more than images of choppy seas – with waves falling and cresting as the camera does the same – giving the viewer the feeling of being stranded at sea in the middle of bad weather.

“Some now say this storm cannot get worse,” the ad says. “But what if the storm does get worse? With someone who’s untested at the helm,” the ad says as the image of a small boat momentarily appears onscreen, buffeted by waves.

The Obama campaign responded to the “Storm” by trying to turn the ad’s basic metaphor against Sen. John McCain. "In case the McCain campaign hasn't noticed, the financial storm has already hit, and John McCain responded by erratically steering his ship in about five different directions,” Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan said in a statement. “The reason that a vast majority of Americans trust Barack Obama to fix this economy is because of the steady leadership he has shown and the change he is promising in this election. No amount of predictable, last-minute fear tactics from will change the fact that John McCain is out of touch, out of ideas, and running out of time," Sevugan added.

“Storm” was produced by the RNC’s independent expenditure unit. The RNC says the ad will begin to air Monday in Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Missouri.

(full script after the jump)

Script of “Storm,” 30 seconds

ANNCR: We choose Presidents to lead us through uncertain times.

ANNCR: Rely on their background and experience to guide us.

ANNCR: Some now say: this storm cannot get worse…our nation is so off course… that Barack Obama’s quick rise to power and inexperience should not matter.

ANNCR: But what if the storm does get worse? With someone who’s untested at the helm.

ANNCR: The Republican National Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising.

Filed under: Barack Obama • John McCain • Political ads • RNC


Jane Sixpack   October 25th, 2008 8:27 pm ET

Do you really want an ageing McCain who seems to at times not entirely in charge of all of his faculties and his VP pick who should probably stick to entertaining Joe Sixpacks by bobbing up and down and from side to side to Rap tunes instead of pursuing a failed career as a "Gidget Goes to Washington" wannabe?

S. Boatman   October 25th, 2008 7:29 pm ET

Im Still Voting For Obama!

Ohioans for Obama   October 25th, 2008 7:26 pm ET

Hope will triumph over fear this election year.

jakie smith   October 25th, 2008 7:26 pm ET

McCain said he was going to veto all the pork, he had an ike pen that was a little old though. it might be old from writting checks for clothes and hair stylist. I think he would have been better off if he had just got a Pig and put a little lip stick on it, called it a hockey mom, and let joe the plumber lead it around for him. just look at the money he could have saved and still had the pork.

No Hillary = No Obama   October 25th, 2008 7:25 pm ET

Yeah, and if the wannabe Obama gets elected, he will go lawyer on everyone. Every mistake he makes, every error in judgment, every misstep will be argued away, rationalized, intellectualized, minimized and "nuanced" to death. He will rely on "yes" people who think he's the supreme being. I didn't vote for Bush – twice and now I won't vote for Obama – for the same reason – inexperienced incompetence.

Hello!!   October 25th, 2008 7:24 pm ET

Governor PALIN is going ROGUE!!!! And she's GREAT!!!!!
One JOE told us Obama can't handle the economy....
JOE the VP told us Obama can't handle the world :)
You guys are SOOOOO afraid of Sarah!!!!!!! TOOOOO Funny!!!!

Mike in Ohio   October 25th, 2008 7:23 pm ET

I will gladly rely on Obama to navigate through the stormy seas. His cool, clear-headed temperament, solid analytical skills, great intellectual capacity, and outstanding advisors are exactly what is needed.

McCain's erratic behavior will only make the seas choppier for us, in my opinion. And by the way, contrary to his recent statements, McCain will most certainly be the target of testing by our adversaries. His demonstrated unpredictability, emotional reactiveness, and ultimately poor decision-making will have our enemies excitedly anticipating what they might be able to extract from us.

Peter (CA)   October 25th, 2008 7:22 pm ET

Yes, what if things get worse? What if your running mate has her own agenda and you obviously can't reel her in? What if your campaign falls apart in front of your eyes and you resort to lies and distortions?

Then what?......You graciously accept defeat.

Hal, Redondo Beach, CA   October 25th, 2008 7:22 pm ET

Be afraid because the ereratic old war-monger will make the right decision when it really counts. He may not be able to hold on to a single policy statement for more than a day, but he will fight for you.

Fight! Fight fight fight !!!!

Haven't we had enough of one guy with the mentality of a ten year old in the Whitehouse??

Hello!!   October 25th, 2008 7:21 pm ET

GREAT AD!
One JOE told us Obama can't handle the economy....
Then JOE the VP told us Obama can't handle the world :)
You guys are SOOOOO afraid of Sarah!!!!!!! TOOOOO Funny!!!!

Republican for Obama   October 25th, 2008 7:16 pm ET

When ads like this don't work on Republican families like ours then it won't work with many other people besides extremists. This type of Government propaganda advertisement that the McCain camp uses is exactly why we're jumping ship and voting for Obama.

-Republican voting for Obama!

Ons   October 25th, 2008 7:16 pm ET

McCain camp might try to instill fear but by now we know who Obama is and what he stands for,
1. He stands for people who lost their jobs and need help
2. People who lost their homes to foreclosures,
3. People who lost insurance.
4. He understands that Main Street works hard why should you bail Wall Street without bailing Main Street too
5. He understands that there people out there working double shifts to make ends meet. Small business owners who have never see 250,000 Obama understands that, that’s why he’s relieving them with a tax break that cooperates have enjoyed for the last 8 years.
6. He knows were the problem is, the lobbyist and Washington special interest of deregulation.
7. Obama understands the economy and how it works.
8. The Storm as already hit and we see who is our Captains
Obama and Joe

halu   October 25th, 2008 7:12 pm ET

How can you trust a McCain/Palin ticket in this eonomical crisis when the so called hockey mom spends $22,800 for her stylist in the first two weeks of October alone – as reported by European newspapers today? Not bad for a hockey mom that already spent $150K in clothing while many "real" hockey moms don't know how to make it to the end of the month.

Josh   October 25th, 2008 7:10 pm ET

Choppy seas! Wow! With American pride shattered, economy on the ropes, two messed up wars, unsecured borders, 25000 young American lives shattered, and the nation in unfathomable debt!

How much more choppy can it get?

And what does RNC has to offer, a senile presidential candidate, an ethically challenged vice-presidential "doll", K-street lobbyists driving its legislative agenda.

RNC needs deep reflection. I hope it will be booted out this year from WH, house and senate. A new ethos will perhaps emerge after its humiliation.

That should be a warning to the Democrats too! Time for intelligent centrist leadership and soul searching for all.

My Friends, let me tell you,   October 25th, 2008 7:09 pm ET

if you vote for me,we will be under the sea.

v.ananthan   October 25th, 2008 7:08 pm ET

IT¨S so pathetic that OBAMA needs BUSH so badly that in every speech he has to connect McCain to BUSH and to tell the voters how bad last 8 years were….
Bush has nothing to do with 9/11 but he has prevented new terrorist actions in american soil…and people should give Bush credit for that..

once for mccain   October 25th, 2008 7:08 pm ET

LOL more fear ads this is getting older than MCcain.

Lorenzo   October 25th, 2008 7:07 pm ET

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go you think it will be a hit............Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lola   October 25th, 2008 7:06 pm ET

HAHA! The Obama campaign wastes no time in sticking it to McCain and the RNC. HA!

O'BIDEN 08

Thomas   October 25th, 2008 7:05 pm ET

No a Tsunami !

Are John McCAin and His side kick done reading Alan Greenspan's
book yet ?

WHAT PAGE ARE THEY ON ?

DDDDDDDDDDDDA   October 25th, 2008 7:03 pm ET

1) ATTACKED DURING THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION

2) RETALIATED AT A COUNTRY THAT HAD NOTHING

* * TO DO WITH IT & LIED TO THE NATION.

3) TRASHED OUR ECONOMY.

ALL BUSH POLICIES MCBUSH VOTED FOR.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE DONE SO WELL THEY BELONG IN JAIL.

Anonymous   October 25th, 2008 7:03 pm ET

If McCain can't pilot a plane and it goes down, WHY would I want to be on a SHIP he's TRYING to keep afloat!??? He can't even STEER his OWN campaign! ???????????? We need a captain who has God as his co-pilot and to me, that man is OB!

Sarge in Florida   October 25th, 2008 7:03 pm ET

Wrong again McShame......Obama wants to save the shrinking ship. He won't let it go down the Titanic Way....He will bring the equipment to fix the BIG hole of the last 8 years of the BUSH doctrine...Hey Sarah, have you learned it yet? And have you learned yet what the JOB of VP is. Or do we need Jeff Foxworthy to explain it to you?

CruzerDog   October 25th, 2008 7:02 pm ET

All I can vision here is McSalty in a creaky boat shipwrecked on Gilligan's Island.

Between one and one hundred, which narrative is this?

Guys, remember campain101, you do this at the beginning of the campaign and the last week you talk about the positive. Who's running this campaign?

ATL LLL   October 25th, 2008 7:00 pm ET

WAS THE RNC NICE ENOUGH TO INCLUDE THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE CAUSED THE WAVES IN THE LAKE, AND THEIR "FIX" INCLUDES A RICKETY OLD VESSEL WITHOUT BOTH OARES?!?

maynard hopkins wi   October 25th, 2008 6:59 pm ET

The R N C can do some digging. How can Obama be president if he wins the election.His grandmother from Kenya claims the he was born in Kenya...His half sister who lives in Hawaii claims the Obama was born there. How can this be some one is lying....

HERE IS A CASE NUMBER TO CHECK OUT #08-CV-04083. Start with the citizenship papers, then the birth certificate office, then the immigration office. Obama has duel citizenship papers..

Who is Frank Marshall Davis...these are legal questions and should be answered before the election date. His mother gave up her citizenship when she moved back to Kenya.

Martha Hussein Baker for Barack   October 25th, 2008 6:59 pm ET

Baloney!

Proud early voter in Oregon for OBAMA!

Please vote! YES WE CAN!

Observer   October 25th, 2008 6:59 pm ET

Man, this campaign is the worst one I've seen in my lifetime. They actually pay people to come up with this stuff? Can you instead show me a glimpse of how positive things will be with McCain, rather than remind me of all the gloom and doom around? Just what do I have to look forward to? Now I'm depressed.....
Here's an idea: show us an ad with some hope and optimism in it. You don't even have to include a sunny meadow with cute bunnies and butterflies–just give us something we can hope for.
And you wonder why you're running behind Obama?!?

A NATION OF WINERS   October 25th, 2008 6:57 pm ET

ME CAN BE WRONG, BUT ME THINKETH, WE WERE
ATTACKED DURING THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. &
HIS GREAT RESPONSE WAS TO SPEND 10-12 BILLION
DOLLARS PER MONTH ATTACKING A COUNTRY THAT
WASN'T EVEN INVOLVED. YEA THE REPUBLICANS HAVE DONE GREAT, IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE TWO MONKEYS TRYING TO
MATE WITH THAT FOOTBALL..ALL GOOD THINGS HAVE BEEN BESTOWED UPON US DURING A RIGHT WING MORONS
ADMINISTRATION & MCBUSH ONE OF BIGGEST.
WHAT A "STRAGEDY"

Lorna, NY   October 25th, 2008 6:57 pm ET

A stupid ad from a stupid party.

JIM...TX   October 25th, 2008 6:57 pm ET

Cute...the Republicans created this "perfect storm" over the past 8 years and now they the only ones that can "steer" us out of it! I DON'T THINK SO :)

cp   October 25th, 2008 6:57 pm ET

Where is the media here!! Randi Rhodes on radio had a audio clip of Senator Joe Lieberman saying the same thing Biden did about the next president being challenged – so please run that one so Pailn and McCain shut up about it.

Lin lin   October 25th, 2008 6:56 pm ET

But can the GOP give any solutions- their attack and scae tactics are sure working !!!

TrendyMac   October 25th, 2008 6:55 pm ET

Mc Same has previous experience causing financial colapse :P

http://www.keatingeconomics.com/

Louise in CA   October 25th, 2008 6:54 pm ET

Really choppy, thanks to the Republicans. Who do they think they're fooling?

vote! OBAMA-BIDEN NOV.4th   October 25th, 2008 6:53 pm ET

VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN A TRUE LEADER, A TRUE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP HE WON'T BE A TRAITOR.

s.positive   October 25th, 2008 6:53 pm ET

And Mcbush is toooooooooooooooooooooooo eratic to steer the nation. You can change from inexperience but you can not change an eratic Old man

David   October 25th, 2008 6:52 pm ET

STORM – the Republicans are the storm that brought America to this point – brought America, this great nation to her knees. Republicans for six years controlled government and they want to talk about a storm coming. It's already here and allowing the Republicans back in to steer the course will only make things worse.

McCain has not been tested – do not be fooled – no president has experience to be president – it is a position unto itself.

I will take my chances with Obama, thank you very much!

Fred Reyes   October 25th, 2008 6:52 pm ET

Yes RNC the storm can get worse. That is the main reason I am voting for the honorable Barack Obama!!!

Joe   October 25th, 2008 6:52 pm ET

The McCain camp must of missed the primaries because Hillary tried the experience angle and it didn't work. Like, at all. Ever.

kay p Tempe AZ   October 25th, 2008 6:51 pm ET

Be afraid, very afraid. Is that it? Is that all the GOP has again this year? Fear and Fear mongering? Is this deja vu all over again?

BM   October 25th, 2008 6:51 pm ET

McCain, when were you tested?You were never president! I think that's what Biden meant. I hope you never get the chance to be tested because the world will no longer exist! You are an ididot!

claudia dick   October 25th, 2008 6:51 pm ET

always fair mongering ,people need hope not fair because people are concern about so many things going on in their lives it will not work ,not this time.

Skyview   October 25th, 2008 6:50 pm ET

One thing for sure, McCain certainly is not the person we want at the helm in times of a storm....With his erratice and unsteady behavior, he would cause more sea-sickness than the storm would....Obama is the ONE!

gamma   October 25th, 2008 6:50 pm ET

We already seen the financial storm hit!! and quesition is where is john mccain?

Peachbird   October 25th, 2008 6:50 pm ET

I suspect Palin is already making a deal with Fox News.....

FLORIDA for Obama   October 25th, 2008 6:48 pm ET

NO MCCAIN NO PALIN NO WAY NO HOW NOT NOW NOT EVER

CM   October 25th, 2008 6:47 pm ET

For all John's 'experience' he still can't come up with a viable plan or run an efficient campaign?

MIKE COLORADO   October 25th, 2008 6:43 pm ET

he might be young that's true but he will be able to live through the storm . which is better a live captain or a old half dead one go figure it out. alzheimer's lost my bearing why are you taking the USA to sea . are you going to drown us all.

FreeNLovIt   October 25th, 2008 6:42 pm ET

Please use farming as an example. In order to preserve the soil, one must rotate crops for planting.

This applies to our government too. Stop PLANTING ELEPHANTS. They have SUCKED all the PEANUTS in the banks. Time to plant a DONKEY to eat GREEN leaves and start off the economy with a REAL GREEN PLan for our future.

Flo   October 25th, 2008 6:42 pm ET

Good Luck......................RNC Tuesday, November 4th could not come any sooner for me. We need to kick the Republicans out of office.

Texas Trail Kitty   October 25th, 2008 6:42 pm ET

Hey RNC, we're already accustomed to choppy seas. Thanks to W, we've had nothing but, so if this is the best scare tactic you have, give it up!

FreeNLovIt   October 25th, 2008 6:41 pm ET

Storm? I'll tell you what if we keep eating PEANUTS for 4 more years. We will DIE as a nation. We're behind in every aspect of the fabric of life.

EU has joined new leadership in teh Science Community. They even tested atoms beyond one's wild imagination – big bang theory. Our scientists are salivating over their laboratories.

Eight years of PEANUTS have put us behind. It's time for change.

paul   October 25th, 2008 6:40 pm ET

fear fear fear here we go again.

KJL   October 25th, 2008 6:40 pm ET

McCain's mind is still in Vietnam. Would someone please wake him up and tell him it's 2008? We don't need his outdated thinking.

DemocraticSOCIALIST   October 25th, 2008 6:39 pm ET

IT IS SO REFRESHING TO SEE THAT THE REPUBLICAN FACIST MACHINE HASNT LOST ITS EDGE WITH THE FEAR TACTICS! THIS TIME THE AMERICAN PEOPLE i HOPE ARE SMARTER AND WISER THAN 2000 WHEN YOU TRIED TO CONVINCE US THAT GAY MARRIAGE WAS GOING TO DESTROY THE NATION.

MCCAIN, PALIN AND THE REST OF THE REPUBS ARE PATHETIC AND NEED TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED AND STUDIED SO A CURE CAN BE FOUND FOR THEIR IGNORANCE AND SELF DEFECATING BEHAVIOR. FRANKLY, THEIR STARTING TO SMELL LIKE THE TRASH THEY SPEAK!

M. Porter   October 25th, 2008 6:38 pm ET

Explain how McCain has been "tested"? Is this a reference to his horrific years as a POW? How does that situation equate to the presidency? Does it relate to McCain's demeanor or steadiness? Obviously not.

I believe that most voters, when hearing those words from the RNC think, as I do...okay...which candidate do I feel is better prepared to handle the job of president?

Obama. He is steady, thoughtful, a good listener, articulate, organized, intelligent and has a very qualified VP as a partner.

Donkey Party   October 25th, 2008 6:37 pm ET

The RepubliCONS have nothing left but their fear and smear campaign, which only appeals to its feeble-minded right-wing loony bin. Good luck with that.

Peachbird   October 25th, 2008 6:35 pm ET

I totally agree... if the storm does get worse.... God help us, McCain would run around like a chicken with its head cut off.... and Palin would probably buy some new clothes!

Obama is the steady hand at the helm of our ship... we already saw that at the peak of the financial crisis just as the Obama rebuttal states. I think People see that now.... McCain cannot change his erratic behavior impressions in ten days! Seriously.... he is guarrelous old man... sadly.

dustin   October 25th, 2008 6:35 pm ET

mccain wasn't even able to calm the waters in the RNC, and yet we're suppose to believe he can calm the waters of america?

Jeanine G   October 25th, 2008 6:34 pm ET

Made me more seasick then anything.

Ron was a REP now a DEM   October 25th, 2008 6:34 pm ET

Choppy seas the GOP has created by tax breaks for the wealthy that line their banks and go overseas for larger profits

Keith   October 25th, 2008 6:34 pm ET

CNN you are a news organization, so report the news. I listen to fact check on Rudy's Robocall which was reported as misleading. If you listen to all of the Robocall he draws a conclusion that all rapist, sex offenders and murders would be set free by liberal judges without mandatory sentencing. This is not misleading. It's outrageous. Its political slime at it worst and should be call that. Maybe if this types of calls and ads are reoprt for what they are the RNC might stop.

Stop the RNC Robocalls now!

Vic   October 25th, 2008 6:31 pm ET

A wave of republicans are voting Democrats. Why? We are tired of these scare tactics. Go early voters!

Registered Republican "voted" Obama/Biden 08

Shy   October 25th, 2008 6:31 pm ET

RNC are studpid as stupid can get. You are sinking Republicans,

Northwest Washington   October 25th, 2008 6:30 pm ET

If I lived in Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina, Pensylvainia, Colorado or Missouri I would not even turn on my radio or television this week. If you don't know the difference between these two candidates in order to make a choice by now, listening to all the crazy stuff that is going to be pitched this week won't help you get to clarity by November 4th.

brian   October 25th, 2008 6:27 pm ET

Obama is intelligent enough to handle any crisis. End of story.

Amy   October 25th, 2008 6:27 pm ET

We're sick of the fear card being played. Knock it off and tell us what you will do to help us in the next 4 years!

Dawn   October 25th, 2008 6:27 pm ET

Oh that is so pitiful.... Was McCain ever been President? If you look back to "W" he was tested almost 8 months to the day. Bill Clinton was tested, Bush 41 was tested, please, all of the negativity and dirty politics, remember makes dirty politicians. Remember the old saying the rich get richer the poor keeps getting poorer and then we die.

He has seven houses, 13 cars, two cell phone towers on his property, married to a millionaire? Why should they worry about us the little people, oh yeah we got a brain, and guess what the wizard of oz did not give us that.

Go Obama/Biden08/12

lilacs   October 25th, 2008 6:27 pm ET

If the republicans win on nov 4th it will not only be choppy seas for america but it will be the sinking of the TITANIC. Vote Obama/Bidden nov 4th and save the United States of America from more of the same. The republicans had their chance and it ended up being a major storm of failed policies. Thanks but no thanks. Enough is enough. VOTE OBAMA/bidden 08

Frank G   October 25th, 2008 6:25 pm ET

McCain has failed the big test.
And that is to convince the American public he would be a better leader.
Courageous military service is just that; courageous military service which has been acknowledged over and over and rightfully so.
But does not qualify one to be a National leader.
This time, hopefully, the American public "gets it".

Doris,Memphis,TN   October 25th, 2008 6:24 pm ET

TLTL! To Little, To Late

Pepou   October 25th, 2008 6:24 pm ET

And who has created this storm over the last 8 years ??? The future with Obama will be clear and calm.

10 days   October 25th, 2008 6:24 pm ET

This disturbing news invokes Lyndon Johnson's "Daisy" ad from 1964 against Barry Goldwater.
Youtube it.

mccain/palin = bush/cheney   October 25th, 2008 6:24 pm ET

The RNC is hoping we don't notice that we are already at rock bottom thanks to them. It can't get any worse than what the republicans have done to this nation.

Linda from AZ   October 25th, 2008 6:23 pm ET

What experience as president and making presidential decisions does McCain have? Being in the Air Force following orders is not making them.

Vote Early Vote Obama Vote

chris   October 25th, 2008 6:21 pm ET

Mccain is erractic...cant chance a livewire in the office we need a thinker...

conny   October 25th, 2008 6:20 pm ET

I hope that in every state that this ad is aired, people realize that not only do we need a serious change and NOW, and realize that the corporation, CEO's etc don't want the change that we need, because most people are struggling. I also hope that there is an attachment to this ad that shows us that any working person, retiree etc is paying for this unpopular WAR, and announce again the Millions of dollars that these crooks walked away with

OBAMA/BIDEN 2008

Jeanette   October 25th, 2008 6:19 pm ET

I would rather see someone who is intellegent. and level headed enough to take on the challenge the world will show us than someone who is ready to loose it and behave so erratic at a time of crisis. Yes Mccain, you were "tested" during the financial crisis...I think not!

hurriCAIN PALIN   October 25th, 2008 6:16 pm ET

Some now say: this storm cannot get worse…our nation is so off course… that nobamas quick rise to power and inexperience should not matter.

it'll matter when america is seriously hurting under a nobama administration

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