McCain Campaign Calls Barack Obama "The One" in Matrix Video Spoof

A mass email sent out on Friday by the John McCain campaign announced the release of a video spoof in which Barack Obama is referred to as "The One". The email refers to the media clip, which has obvious throwbacks to the movie The Matrix, as "our latest fun video". Included in the various references that compare Barack Obama to a messianic figure is a segment of Moses, played by Charlton Heston, and the parting the Red Sea.

Is Barack Obama the new Neo?

Many parts of the video are reminiscent of campaign ads that have been released for Barack Obama. However, upon listening closely, the choice of words used to describe the stream of edited clips is anything but sincere. The opening narrative of the video begins, "It should be known that in 2008, the world will be blessed. They will call him The One." This title is the same as that given to Keanu Reeves' character Neo in the movie The Matrix. In this movie, The One is a prophetic being who is destined to save the world through his ability to control the Matrix.

"He can do no wrong."

The sarcastic overtones of the video continue as they refer to Barack Obama as the self-appointed Messiah. At one point the voiceover states, "He can do no wrong."

Charlton Heston, as Moses, hails Barack Obama

The Hollywood references don't stop as the video winds down with the famous scene from The Ten Commandments in which Charlton Heston, in the role of Moses, proclaims, "Behold his mighty hand." The scene fades out with a statement questioning if Barack Obama is ready to lead.

Is "The One" spoof too much?

Had I seen the video on the Late Show with David Letterman or some talk show on Comedy Central, I wouldn't have been shocked in the least. In fact, I probably would have thought it was a little tame. However, I was a bit surprised to see this video being promoted on the John McCain campaign web site.

Running a negative campaign against your opponent is certainly nothing new, but this seems to represent a whole new side to that "art" of campaign tactics. Rather than point out faults in Obama's political record, "The One" video instead calls upon the public to vote against Obama because of his presumed arrogance.