McCain's Musical Woes Continue

Where's the love?

Last week, Team McCain posted a montage of media personalities fawning over Democratic nominee Barack Obama on its website and YouTube channel. Called "Obama Love," the fundraising video asked viewers to choose which song--Frank Valli's "My Eyes Adored You" or "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"--served as a more stirring accompaniment for the footage. It immediately amassed 260,000 views and rocketed to the top Unruly Media's presidential campaign viral video chart. And then, as quickly as it appeared, "Obama Love" vanished into the ether. (Or would it be e-ther?)

Turns out the music was to blame. As the good folks at Wired magazine report, the McCain campaign failed to license Valli's hits--a pricey but, alas, necessary move--and the Warner Music Group asserted its copyright claim against YouTube, eventuating the takedown. Wired notes that "it's ironic that a United States senator, who has been part of a body that has so repudiated the idea of fair-use, is feeling the repeated stings resulting from its own legislative history." But we here at Stumper headquarters think that the more interesting--and/or hilarious--story is McCain's utter inability to find a single rock star willing to associate his or her songs with the campaign.

Regular readers will recognize that this isn't the first time McCain has received the cold shoulder from the music industry. Earlier this year, catering to a growing segment of soulless Americans who could care less what they can do for their country, but whine louder and louder about what their country must do for them,"That is both un-American and pathetic."

What gives? Now, it's not like

What's more, a good tune coupled with a clever idea can also work wonders online--as the original "Obama Love" proved. On Saturday, the McCain campaign reposted the video, substituting a generic, sax-heavy doo-wop track for Valli's swooning, falsetto-laden classics. A Jersey boy myself, I have to admit: there was no thrill going up my leg this time around. And the crowds, in their infinite wisdom, seem to agree. So far, the revised clip has received only 9,970 views.

Ain't that a shame.

*Updated 5:32 p.m.