The McCain-Palin campaign announced today that it will release “its latest television ad” called “Tiny.” But it’s not the campaign’s newest ad – not by a long shot. The ad was announced and aired in August when it was also described as the campaign’s “latest television ad.”
In a press release, the campaign claims the ad was released in light of comments reportedly made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy describing Sen. Barack Obama’s position on Iran as “utterly immature” and “formulations empty of all content.” But those are not quotes that came directly from Sarkozy.
Instead, a report from Haaretz says the quotes come via an unnamed “senior Israeli government source” citing “reports reaching Israel.” And the article goes on to report that Sarkozy has only criticized Obama’s position “in closed forums in France.”
In any event, the French president’s reported comments are fresh. But the misleading ad is stale. It claims Obama said “Iran is a ‘tiny’ country” and “doesn’t pose a serious threat.” But the ad cuts Obama short and creates a misleading portrait of the candidate’s position. As we’ve reported previously:
- Obama actually said of Iran, Cuba and Venezuela: “These countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union” (emphasis ours).
- And he said those countries don’t pose a serious threat to the United States “the way the Soviet Union posed a threat to us.”
- Obama has also said in speeches that Iran is Israel’s greatest threat, and a serious threat to the region.
As usual, see our full story for more.