Dukakis Compares McCain Ad With Infamous ‘Willie Horton’ Ad

Former Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis said a recent John McCain campaign ad featuring former Fannie Mae CEO Franklin Raines is tantamount to the infamous 1988 “Willie Horton” ad used against him.

The McCain ad, entitled “Advice,” juxtaposes images of Raines and Obama, who are both African-American, with the image of an elderly white woman. The McCain ad alleges that Obama has “bad instincts” for relying on the judgement of Raines as an advisor.

The Horton ad, released by the George H.W. Bush’s campaign in 1988, displayed a picture of Horton, a convicted murderer released on a weekend furlough program during the Dukakis administration who raped and murdered a white woman. That ad, criticized for fomenting racial overtones, was credited as an effective ad against Dukakis in that election.

Dukakis, asked if the two ads are similar by PolitickerMA, said, “Essentially, yes.”

“[T]he same thing is happening again this year,” Dukakis said, referring to the ad. “Why did they pick that person from Fannie Mae?”

Watch the McCain ad:

Watch the ‘Willie Horton’ ad:

–Michael O’Brien