Distorting McCain's Remarks

Summary
Obama's campaign is running a TV ad in Indiana that asks the question: "How can John McCain fix the economy, when he doesn't think it's broken?" But the ad uses quotes from McCain that are old and taken out of context:

The ad shows McCain saying, "I don't believe we're headed into a recession." But McCain said that in January, and he also acknowledged at the time that the American economy was in "a rough patch."

The ad then shows McCain saying in April, "[T]here's been great progress economically." But the quote is lifted from a much longer response; McCain went on to say that the "progress" made during Bush's tenure still wouldn't console American families who are facing "tremendous economic challenges."

The third quote from McCain, "[W]e have had a pretty good prosperous time, with low unemployment," also comes from January. In his full response, McCain went on to say "things are tough right now."

Analysis
Sen. Barack Obama's campaign is running an ad in Indiana that tries to paint Sen. John McCain as being out of touch with Americans' concerns about the economy. It contrasts remarks from McCain with comments from residents of Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. Obama's ad, however, used dated remarks from McCain and takes his words out of context.

Obama for America Ad:
"Fix the Economy" 

McCain: I don't believe we're headed into a recession.
January 10, 2008

Rutherford: I think we're absolutely in a recession.
Graphic: Ed Rutherford, Morrow, Ohio

Ahlersmeyer: I sometimes struggle just to get essentials, you know the milk, the bread, the eggs.
Graphic:Lauren Ahlersmeyer, Lafayette, Indiana

McCain: There's been great progress economically.
April 17, 2008

Morrison: The economy is in a rut.
Graphic: Stuart Morrison, Park Hills, Kentucky