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Can someone explain where this "I approve this message" came from?  I've thought all this before but after the latest John McCain commercial where it's his face, his voice I have to give into the madness and ask why?

How in blue blazes does this make any sense?  If you see an ad for a Candidate and it's not them talking I could maybe see the point of "I approve this message".  But when you have the face of the candidate staring at you while speaking, the words match the way his lips are moving it's bizarre. To say "I approve this message" when you can cleary see and hear what is coming out of his mouth?  Am I the only one that finds this.....ummm....dumb?