DNC Releases New Video: 'Puppet Masters'

Video Shows How Lobbyists For Big Oil Pull the Strings on McCain Energy Plan

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Democratic National
Committee today released a new web ad called "Puppet Masters" that shows who's
pulling the strings on John McCain's energy policy. The video features an
animated John McCain puppet appearing on stage to oppose Senator Obama's plan
to give middle class families a $1,000 rebate funded by a windfall profits tax
on the oil and proposing gas tax gimmick of his own that won't reduce the
price of gas, but would line the pockets of his friends in Big Oil. As McCain
talks, the video reveals the puppet masters pulling McCain's strings: the Big
Oil lobbyists advising and raising money for his campaign.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080519/DNCLOGO )

Last week, Campaign Money Watch reported that 33 of McCain's fundraisers or
advisors have lobbied for the oil and gas industry. Reports also show that
McCain has raised more than $2 million from the oil and gas industry since
January 2007--hardly a surprise considering John McCain's promise of four more
years of energy policies that have left American families paying skyrocketing
energy costs while Big Oil reported record profits. Even today, news reports
outline additional issues with McCain oil company donors who gave after his
switch on drilling.

"The American people want a President who will put their interests ahead of
John McCain's oil company buddies and their lobbyists," said DNC spokeswoman
Karen Finney. "The reviews are in, and while the last seven years were a
bonanza for Big Oil they've been a bust for America's working families. The
American people have seen this show before, and they aren't looking for an
encore."

To watch the video, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VMfcOIegcs

The following is an annotated script of the video.

DNC Web Ad
"Puppet Masters"

TEXT: Who is Pulling the Strings on John McCain's Energy Plan?

MCCAIN: "Now as then, all a windfall profits tax will accomplish is to
increase our dependence on foreign oil, and hinder exactly the kind of
domestic exploration and production we need." [McCain Speech to Oil Executives
(Houston, TX), 6/17/08]

TEXT (over applause): Big Oil: $143 Billion in Profits Over the Last Year
[Securities and Exchange Commission, 2007-2008]

MCCAIN: "I propose that the federal government suspend all taxes on gasoline
now paid by the American people from Memorial Day to Labor Day." [McCain
remarks (Pittsburgh, PA), 4/15/08]

TEXT (over applause): 200 Economists: Gas Tax Gimmick Means Even More for Big
Oil [CNN, 5/6/08]

TEXT: 33 McCain Advisors and Fundraisers Lobbied for Big Oil [Campaign Money
Watch, 7/31/08: http://www.campaignmoney.org/files/Its_A_Gusher.pdf]

TEXT: Oil Industry Contributes $2 Million to McCain Campaign [Center for
Responsive Politics; Washington Post, 7/27/08]

TEXT: Big Oil in the White House? We've Seen This Show Before.

TEXT: John McCain: More of the Same on Energy

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee,
www.democrats.org.
This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's
committee.

SOURCE Democratic National Committee

Damien LaVera of the Democratic National Committee, +1-202-863-8148