Yesterday, the McCain campaign released an online advertisement that responded to Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) criticism of its tax policy as “making a virtue of selfishness.” The ad — which featured a yellowed picture of a scowling Obama — misspelled the word “virtue.” Here is a screenshot of the “virture” ad:
“VIRTURE” (11/2/08)
This is at least the third time in the past month that the McCain-Palin ticket has released advertisements with misspellings. Here are the other two, both available on the official McCain YouTube channel:
“EVERBODY” (10/16/08)
“EXAGERRATE” (10/2/08)
McCain invented the Blackberry, right? Not SpellChecker?
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:10 pmpoor spelling is common
among trolls too.
*
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:10 pmgive them a break, they have been eating a-lot of paste and licking many many windows in the past 2 years. We can’t expect them to get all the hate, lies and spelling correct in the same ads?? they would have to multi-task with those Republican Brains.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:13 pmMaybe that’s how they spell in Wasilla.
¶ AIO
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:13 pmAnd the supporters have signs saying “mavrick”.
Poor spelling to match the poor math skills in poll interpretation to match the poor critical thinking skills to the poor reading skills applied to Obama’s written proposals to …
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:14 pmI think this says a lot about what kind of people McCain chooses to advise him.
Either that, or they’re banking on the right-wing “anti-egghead” principle that says that proper spelling is “elitist”.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:14 pmIt’s almost over folks…
And that’s why things have gotten so hyperbolic.
They’re literally frothing at the mouth, shaking so hard they can’t even type properly.
Writing articles like this one: http://townhall.com/columnists/KevinMcCullough/2008/03/02/obama_americas_first_gay_president
Read it if you can stomach it…I started laughing at first, but the more of this idiocy that I read, the dumber I felt, so I had to stop after the first page, I will not read any more of it.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:14 pmDoes this mean that McSame was one of the children Bush left behind?
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:15 pmI don’t know what marketing firm they’re using, but the lack of professionalism is appalling. Lack of proofreading for simple spelling errors (!) can make your company look like it’s just cranking stuff out from a home computer.
Of course, this is probably the same marketing firm who uses music without first getting permission, so it could very well be a non-professional (i.e., somebody’s cousin) outfit.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:18 pmI wouldn’t be surprised if they did that on purpose.
Virtue
Vulture
Virture
Even though selfishness is big and bold, they might not want virtue anywhere near Obama’s face.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:20 pmSome of his volunteers even write their letters backwards.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:20 pmWell what do you expect when the top of the ticket barely passed college, and the number two spot is held by Miss Congeniality?
And these two want to have control over the nuklear codes, tew!
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:23 pmRRRRRRRepublicans are RRRRRRRRRRRetarded.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:24 pmstateofthedivision Says:
I wouldn’t be surprised if they did that on purpose.
This thought crossed my mind as well. The average viewer does not really look at or scrutinize advertising. They are exposed to rapid images and few will associate the ad with the producer of the ad. They will only associate the audio with the visual.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:25 pmAssociating misspelled words with Obama’s face reinforces a stereotyped perception.
To the Republican base, poor spelling is a virture.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:25 pmOh, he is just being a mavrick.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:27 pmYeah, except, WTF?
Did you vote for Obama, or did you think to yourself that Blacks can’t spell?
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm“Everbody” in the McCain camp has to “exagerrate” their spelling errors and present them as a “virture” of the “common man” since nobody there can actually answer Obama’s question regarding they made a virtue out of selfishness (or dishonesty or lust or imperialism).
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:32 pmGud speling iz fer ulitests!
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:34 pm“Learning’s Hard!” – Palin
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:36 pmMaybe the repuke ads are being proofed by joe the plummerr…
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 pmThese are not intentional ‘mistakes’. They are honest to goodness stupidity. misshusseinmolly is probably on target: it’s someone’s cousin/nephew/sister/uncle’s former roomate kind of cronyism that is the M.O. of the republicans, who always dreamed of being in advertising, and now they get a lucrative contract for the campaign. Sloppiness in this regard would seem to indicate a very small “company”, as well. Heck of a job.
Also, clearly a product of the NCLB fiasco.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 pmThey are just plain stupid! I can’t wait until tomorrow! I want a Pres and VP that’s smarter than me – damn!
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 pmKontry furst. Axpeariense yu kan beleev inn.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:39 pmYou know, Noah Webster was a devout Christian, and his background sounds conservative. But then, these misspellings are even outside what he would list as “non-standard.”
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:40 pmIt’s an attempt to appeal to the Cletus contingent…
..that there means ‘kith ‘n kin’ just in case any ‘o them is a-lookin’ in.
Yep.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:40 pmNevar. thanks for pointing out the association between mispelled words and ignorance. As you noted, they mispelled the word within an Obama quote.
Of course a Harvard educated lawyer wouldn’t make such an error, but Republicans don’t want to paint him in a good light.
Vulture, came to mind as I finished reading the word the first time. Repugs paint Obama as preying on people through “higher taxes”.
I bet they paid a research firm big money for “virture”.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:40 pm“McCain Not Ready To Spell On Day One”
– - Worst. Organization. Ever.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:43 pmNo amount of ‘exagerration’ of the Right’s stupidity is too much. They outdo themselves in idiocy each and every time.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:44 pmGiven the pattern of mispelling, I now believe they’re purposeful. Two incorrect spelled words are next to black men.
There must be research that shows mispellings get people’s attention, i.e. they look when they might not. Then the negative association of ignorance goes with the target of the ad, not its sponsor.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:46 pmJoe the Proofreader. This is the attention to detail one would expect from a McCain administration.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:47 pmDidHeJustSayThat Says:
(Nevar) “Associating misspelled words with Obama’s face reinforces a stereotyped perception.”
“Yeah, except, WTF?
Did you vote for Obama, or did you think to yourself that Blacks can’t spell?”
It’s an attack ad, against Obama. Look at it. An unsmiling black man, a misspelled word, and a bold “SELFISHNESS”
I was implying that this ad is targeting someone who bigoted, minimally educated, a total consumer of the fear machine sitting on the sofa with a sixpack in front of his 60 inch flat screen. (The Bible is in the coffee table drawer, underneath the Smith and Wesson.)
And yes, I did vote for Obama. Last week.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:48 pmMcCain is hiring people with the same level of expertise that Bush has the last 8 years. Heckuva job Brownie.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:50 pmspelling is for egghead elitists, not Joe Six Pak
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:50 pm.
If John and Sarah McPalin can’t face their spelling errors,
How are they to face their fears of their Radical Muslim terrors?
.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:52 pmNow, if the virture was intentional, what about the other two? I don’t see them applying to the theory. I think that is just giving these retards too much credit, based on how this campaign has been run. Its the end, and the marketers have been paid, so whether it’s Larry-someone’s-cousin or a legit firm, they apparently don’t care this last month. if they are good little republicans (which they certainly are) they’ve been paid already, so “they got theirs, screw the rest”, as the republican theme song goes. I don’t buy the intentional theme here: stupidity or negligence seem more believable (to me — everyone is entitled to their own opinion).
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:53 pmI was implying that this ad is targeting someone who bigoted, minimally educated, a total consumer of the fear machine sitting on the sofa with a sixpack in front of his 60 inch flat screen
(Someone who ordinarily wouldn’t get up off his ass and vote, but just might if he was scared enough.)
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:53 pmThe people that run the GOP are not illiterate. These are racist subliminal messages geared to impact their base. Pathetic but effective at some level.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:53 pmTaking a short break in my volunteering. That said..
TAKE TIME TO VOLUNTEER TODAY. IT ONLY TAKE A BIT OF YOUR TIME AND IT’S AS EASY AS PUTTING OUT DOOR HANGERS. THEY GIVE YOU A LIST OF WHERE TO GO, YOU DON’T HAVE TO TALK TO ANYONE IF YOU DON’T WANT TO.
WIPE THESE IDIOTS OUT OF OFFICE WITH YOUR SUPPORT TODAY. VOLUNTEER.
Now I’m heading back out. Good luck to us all. :D
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:54 pmomg a typo on my post–the GOOP is getting to me.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:54 pmTo err is human, but to forego proofreading just plain lazy. Those lazy, something for nothing Republican ad makers.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:55 pmmaybe he’s trying to be cute like with lol cats? i can haz spellcheck?
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:56 pmHowever, I WILL go with the thought that the large print “Selfishness” in yellow (the first color our eyes recognize) next to his face as being an attempt at intentional assosciation.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:56 pm.
REMEMBER:
This ad was endorsed by Senator Johnny MkSpeller.
.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:57 pmThis deliberate dumb-ass is a purposeful strategy.
McCumstain’s campaign realized eight years ago that the people HATE to have to vote for somebody who is abviously smarter than they are.
So the campaign is doing everything it possibly can to lower its intellectual tone down to that of the average Murkin Idle/Dancing w/(2nd rate) Stars viewer. They have succeeded admirably, especially with the naming of the vapid, feculent parvenu “Prayer Mom” Sarah (”Cooter”) Palin. NOBODY listening to her could ever get the impression that she’s acatually smarter than they…
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:57 pmCitizenE Says: To err is human, but to forego proofreading just plain lazy. Those lazy, something for nothing Republican ad makers.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Yes, to err is human….
But to Arrgh is Pirate…
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:58 pmtypical McBraindead supporter:
http://planetquo.net/Paranoid/get-a-brain-morans.jpg
“vote for mccain! he’d make a more gooder president than osama!”
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:00 pm.
Is this what they call…
… Appealing to the base?
.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:00 pmNevar Says: I was implying that this ad is targeting someone who bigoted, minimally educated, a total consumer of the fear machine sitting on the sofa with a sixpack in front of his 60 inch flat screen.
(Someone who ordinarily wouldn’t get up off his ass and vote, but just might if he was scared enough.)
That’s about 60% of the Murkin public, on a GOOD day…but you forgot: “waiting for the Pizza guy”…
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:01 pmIt must be deliberate, they can’t be that dumb, can they?
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:02 pmI can’t wate to votte tommorrow. I’m votting for Obamma for Presnident. He’s a virtureous man.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:03 pmI will definitely go with an intentional spelling of EVERBODY in the ad from October 16th.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:04 pmNot only is it a misspelling, it is also a common enunciation of the word in certain populations…
JohnR Says:
The people that run the GOP are not illiterate.
For my own part, I really do not think that they are illiterate, however literate does not mean that one is very good at spelling, and it is not the people running the GOP that make these ads — someone is hired to do this. The “virture” is a beievable typo, but should have been edited. The subliminal message in the words there is the big print yellow “selfish”.
These are racist subliminal messages geared to impact their base.
Yep. Most of their campaign has had a racial undercurrent BARELY below the surface, and regularly bubbling up TO the surface.
At this point they are not trying to WIN votes, they are trying to scare the racists out there enough to go out tomorrow and vote instead of sit at home.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:05 pmAnd today bot McCain and Palin are repeatedly using Democrat where Democratic would be appropriate. Probably intentional but with their level of stupidity it’s hard to tell.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:05 pmI never heard anyone say “everbody”
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:05 pmIt definately makes you wonder about the “NCLB”. Didn’t the repugs fail to completely FUND that program?
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:06 pmPanic will do that to ya, you betcha.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 pmI only hear rednecks say “everbody.”
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:09 pmNevar Says:
I will definitely go with an intentional spelling of EVERBODY in the ad from October 16th.
Not only is it a misspelling, it is also a common enunciation of the word in certain populations…
More proof of the wonderful success of NCLB?
We ant dum. We got n edjikayshun.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:09 pmqatwoman Says:
It definately makes you wonder about the “NCLB”. Didn’t the repugs fail to completely FUND that program?
No, they did not fund that program. But that was win/win. The intent of the program was to eliminate public schooling, or, if that failed, it would “dumb down” public schools. Mission accomplished. We really do NEED to eliminate that whole plan. Completely. Not “rework” it, but eliminate it. Sorry, but I really, really hate NCLB and what it has done to lower education in general.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:14 pmThe three spelling misteaks are obviously intentionial, dessined to assure the averege Ammericain that John and Sara are not part of the educated smartt ass aleet, butt just like them are. Reel Ammericanins really can spell right most times, and they always get “ni–er” right.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:14 pmWhen you graduate 5th from the bottom in a class of hundreds, perhaps correct spelling doesn’t seem too important.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:21 pmIf it’s deliberate it’s just sad.
If it’s intentional it’s equally just sad.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:21 pmHow’s that home schooling going for you Republicans? (My apologies to those home-schooled people that REALLY are kick-*ss, smart!)
No wonder they don’t like the intellectual “elite”.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:22 pmI meant unintentional…..oops
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:23 pmEvery one of the McCain/Palin ads I have seen look like a high school student could do better. They are all incredibly amateurish.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:26 pmSo McCain’s team has a little “competence” problem. Big deal. It couldn’t hurt to elect a team like this to government. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen…?
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:32 pmThey test this ads with targeted voter segments. They measure the impact, consciously and subconsciously.
These ads aren’t designed to impact most people on this message board. Our filters lead us to different conclusions/feelings.
We decide Republicans are ignorant and can’t proofread. That’s a convenient conclusion benefitting a deeper nefarious intent. We decide misspellings are the result of error, when they are a well tested means of manipulation.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:37 pmTheres no end to McCains sleaze. Not content with simply attacking Obamas character McCain has now gone berserk on everything he hates. Here the English language which I guess is not “American” enough unless you pervert the spelling of every other word
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:40 pmIf the trolls were here (where ARE they today?), they would no doubt belittle us for pouncing on the “trivial” issue of misspelling.
I look at it this way. What we have here is a contracted marketing firm that operates with little or no oversight from the person/entity who hired them. What advertising firm would release an ad without submitting a proof to the client for their approval? Or perhaps they did, and nobody on the McCain team caught such obvious errors?
Yes, these are “just” spelling errors. Not really a big deal. But I think it says something about the relationship a McCain administration will have with its contractors. And THAT can be a big deal (if you loved KBR, if you loved Blackwater, if you loved Halliburton, just wait…).
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:41 pmtexasbob Says:
and they always get “ni–er” right.
Actually, that’s not true. With one “G” it is a river, it requires 2 “G”’s to be the slur (if you really want to worry about proper spelling of slurs, but then again I guess proper spelling is always useful, or at least helps accuracy of the communication).
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:42 pm#LibertyLover Says:
How’s that home schooling going for you Republicans? (My apologies to those home-schooled people that REALLY are kick-*ss, smart!)
The key to kick-ass home schooled children is that they have intelligent open minded parents. I’m pretty sure if you were to look at the parents of our home-schooled trolls, we would find that they would never be qualified to teach anyone anything.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:44 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
The key to kick-ass home schooled children is that they have intelligent open minded parents. I’m pretty sure if you were to look at the parents of our home-schooled trolls, we would find that they would never be qualified to teach anyone anything.
Awwwww…. you mean that the little Palin children’s chances depend on Sarah and Todd being intelligent and open minded, and decent educators? But… but… but…. what about all that bible study and all? Won’t that teach them all they really need to know? I mean, the Rapture will probably be here before they’re old enough to drive, so really, why even worry about it at all? Why worry about anything? The Rapture will be here in a matter of years, so, do what you want…. sorry… I guess I got caught up in the excitement.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:49 pmTo pull several above posts together:
Poor proofreading. Lack of adequate review.
Playing music without rights – Lack of research.
Sarah Palin – Have we met before ? Lack of vetting.
Conflicting messages – Lack of communication among the campaign.
Self conflicting messages – even to where McCain doesn’t speak for the McCain campaign.
And all this among the Repubs who traditionally run (and have the machine to run) a tight campaign.
The entire McCain campaign has been marked by a sloppiness that demonstrates why he is the wrong man for the WH (without even thinking of his politics).
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:53 pmWhat I get from the Biden ad is something along the lines of Frosted Flakes and Tony the Tiger.
“Look at me! Ain’t I Grrreat!”
Striped sunburst, gerrate!
Don’t vote for this guy, he’ll puff himself up.
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:13 pmWhat!?! No “Joe the Speller” to help out the campaign?
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:25 pmBesides the spelling error, the selfish Wingnuts are holding true to their low standards and bragging about the ‘virture’ of greed.
Pigs, one and all.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:37 pmI suspect this latest “gaffe” is not a mistake but in fact a clever way of getting free advertising (while making you look like an idiot).
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:20 pmAnd this is why every now and then some Republiscum politician comes up with the idea of abolishing HEW. Who needs edjakeshon, after all?
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:39 pmCasting spells is a part of witchcraft.
Therefore (drumroll) by conservative logic (clash of cymbals)
Spell-checking is a part of witchcraft!
When Palin’s woo-woo witchdoctors warded her from spells, they also warded her from spell-checkers. Dictionaries will be among the first tomes to be burned… followed by grammar and punctuation guides such as The Transitive Vampire.
November 3rd, 2008 at 6:52 pmThere’s no need to spell-check! Don’t you realize that, since the Republicans have gone with anti-intellectual theme, it would be fair to assume that McCain’s base population probably doesn’t know how to spell those big words! In fact, getting ALL the words right could be seen as that dreaded ‘elitism’ dontcha know!
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:44 pmHooked on phonics works for them
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:17 pmIsn’t this the party that brought us morans?
November 4th, 2008 at 8:28 amHuked on Fonix werked fur them republickcans.
McShame & Caribou Barbie are Farcisists.
Farcisist…when full of yourself meets full of crap.
November 4th, 2008 at 8:23 pm