Judgment & More of the Same

Here is an ad that was run in the 1988 campaign by Michael Dukakis criticizing the vice-presidential selection of Dan Quayle by George H.W Bush. It speaks to the primary role of the vice-president and questions the decision-making abilities of candidate Bush.



The transcript of the spot as it ran:

(Heartbeat.)

MALE NARRATOR: The most powerful man in the world is also mortal. We know this all too well in America. One in five American vice presidents has had to rise to the duties of Commander-in-Chief. One in five has had to take on the responsibilities of the most powerful office in the world. For this job, after five months of reflection, George Bush made his personal choice: J. Danforth Quayle.

MALE NARRATOR [and TEXT]: Hopefully, we will never know how great a lapse of judgment that really was.

My simple editing of the transcript for 2008 creates an ad even more appropriate now, as McCain's age, health and Palin's lack of experience are each of more concern than were those of Bush/Quayle (Quayle was brutally criticized, even though he was a sitting U.S. Senator):

(Heartbeat.)

MALE NARRATOR: The most powerful man in the world is also mortal. We know this all too well in America. One in five American vice presidents has had to rise to the duties of Commander-in-Chief. One in five has had to take on the responsibilities of the most powerful office in the world. For this job, after five months of reflection, John McCain made his personal choice: Sarah Palin.

MALE NARRATOR [and TEXT]: Hopefully, we will never know how great a lapse of judgment that really was.

The Obama campaign chose to not attack McCain's pick directly, instead launchng this ad back in August.