Posted by Jed Lewison on Sat Jun 21, 2008 at 1:05 AM Pacific

McCain Goes Law & Order On Obama's New Prop

I guess the McCain campaign's new credo is that when team Obama tests out a dumb idea, they need to come out with one that is even dumber.

Today's example: the Obama campaign tries out a quirky new faux presidential seal emblazoned with the Latin words vero possumus ("yes we can"). It was at least in part tongue-in-cheek, but still it wasn't a good idea; besides being ugly, it is easy fodder for the humorless.

Which brings us to the McCain campaign. Instead of taking an easy layup, they treated the issue like it was a matter of national security, suggesting that someone (perhaps Barack himself?) might have to go to jail because of the new prop.

Seriously (they even include the proper section of U.S. Code - emphasis by McCain campaign):

Is the Great Seal of Obama even legal?

Whoever, except as authorized under regulations promulgated by the President and published in the Federal Register, knowingly manufactures, reproduces, sells, or purchases for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seals of the President or Vice President, or any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

LOL. What a bunch of tools.

This must mean they want to lock up The Ramones, Aaron Sorkin, Martin Sheen, and even Rupert Murdoch? Hell, even the Bush Administration isn't as extreme as McCain when it comes to protecting the presidential seal. When Bush & Co. got annoyed that The Onion was using it, they sent a cease and desist letter. McCain would have sent out a SWAT team or something, I guess.

McCain Goes Law & Order On Obama's New Prop

I guess the McCain campaign's new credo is that when team Obama tests out a dumb idea, they need to come out with one that is even dumber.

Today's example: the Obama campaign tries out a quirky new faux presidential seal emblazoned with the Latin words vero possumus ("yes we can"). It was at least in part tongue-in-cheek, but still it wasn't a good idea; besides being ugly, it is easy fodder for the humorless.

Which brings us to the McCain campaign. Instead of taking an easy layup, they treated the issue like it was a matter of national security, suggesting that someone (perhaps Barack himself?) might have to go to jail because of the new prop.

Seriously (they even include the proper section of U.S. Code - emphasis by McCain campaign):

Is the Great Seal of Obama even legal?

Whoever, except as authorized under regulations promulgated by the President and published in the Federal Register, knowingly manufactures, reproduces, sells, or purchases for resale, either separately or appended to any article manufactured or sold, any likeness of the seals of the President or Vice President, or any substantial part thereof, except for manufacture or sale of the article for the official use of the Government of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

LOL. What a bunch of tools.

This must mean they want to lock up The Ramones, Aaron Sorkin, Martin Sheen, and even Rupert Murdoch? Hell, even the Bush Administration isn't as extreme as McCain when it comes to protecting the presidential seal. When Bush & Co. got annoyed that The Onion was using it, they sent a cease and desist letter. McCain would have sent out a SWAT team or something, I guess.

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