Sparring in Spanish

Summary
An Obama TV ad tells Spanish-speaking viewers that McCain is "friends" with Rush Limbaugh, and quotes the radio host as calling Mexicans "stupid and unqualified" and telling them to "shut up or get out." The ad is doubly misleading. Limbaugh has until recently disparaged McCain repeatedly to his audience. And Limbaugh says his words are ripped out of context and twisted in the ad. In any case they don't represent McCain's position.

A McCain ad, in turn, blames "Obama and his Congressional allies" for blocking an immigration bill that McCain co-sponsored. But it was a Republican-led filibuster that sunk the bill in the Senate, and McCain said afterward that "A lot of the Republican base was passionate about the issue, and they made their influence felt."

Analysis
The Obama-Biden campaign's new Spanish-language TV ad says that "John McCain and his Republican friends" have insulted Mexicans and practiced "intolerance." The ad shows conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh calling Mexicans "stupid and unskilled," and exhorting illegal immigrants to "shut your mouth or get out."

Obama-Biden Ad:
"Two Faces" (Translation)
Announcer: They want us to forget the insults we've endured.

Text on Screen: "...Mexicans stupid and unqualified." -Rush Limbaugh

Announcer: The intolerance! They made us feel marginalized in this country we love so much.

Text on Screen: "Shut up, or get out!" -Rush Limbaugh

Announcer: John McCain and his Republican friends have two faces. One of them lies to get our votes. And the other one's worse, following the failed politics of George Bush, putting the interests of powerful lobbies above those of working families. John McCain, more of the same Republican deception.

No Friend of His
One problem: Limbaugh has been no friend of McCain and has attacked him repeatedly. He hounded McCain for his stance on immigration, among other issues. In January, Limbaugh said that a McCain nomination would "destroy the Republican party," and said he would vote for a Democrat over McCain. Limbaugh has attacked McCain specifically for being too friendly to illegal immigrants from Mexico, saying McCain "supports amnesty and open borders."

Only in recent weeks has Limbaugh swung to supporting McCain. Limbaugh and McCain "Republican friends"? Hardly. Yet this ad tries to hold McCain accountable for the words of one of his most vocal antagonists.

Rush to Judgment
Furthermore, Limbaugh says the ad takes his words out of context, and that he did not call all Mexicans "stupid."