“Who is Barack Obama?” John McCain is asking us. This should prompt an obvious response: “Who is John McCain?” But we need not ask, because we have seen John McCain, or at least his type, half a century ago. His type had a different name, and trafficked in a different sort of guilt-by-association, but it was a senator whose tactics were the same. The insinuations were the same. Whether the result will be the same remains to be seen.
That long-ago senator embraced the politics of fear as no one had before. He exploited the fears of a paranoid populace. He acquired notoriety and masterminded a brand of smear tactics that became synonymous with his surname, and it was dubbed “McCarthyism.”
McCarthyism effectively came to an end on June 9, 1954, when one courageous attorney named Joseph Welch stood up to the junior senator from Wisconsin and, declaring that McCarthy had done enough in his campaign of guilt-by-association, demanded, “Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?”
Recently a new term arose to describe the politics of personal destruction: “Swiftboating.” But now we’re seeing a new level of such tactics, and it is particularly vicious, and it is monumentally unforgivable. It is being displayed by John McCain, and by Sarah Palin, and by their various stalking horses and representatives, and if you’re not calling it “McCaining” or “McCainism” then you’re just not paying attention.
Not since McCarthy have we seen such attempts at guilt-by-association as the endeavors to link Obama with terrorism, a naked appeal to the deepest anxieties that Americans continue to feel in an uncertain world. “Who is Barack Obama?” asks this woman whose name was unknown to the population of forty nine states a mere two months ago, and who continues to be screened from the press whenever possible. “Who is Barack Obama?” demands this man who was alive during the Red Scare of the 1950s, who saw first-hand how lives were ruined. Who saw how insinuation and fear mongering created a period of history that we, as Americans, should revile and despise.
And yet there are McCain and Palin et al, creating links between Obama and a home- grown political terrorist group that was active when Obama was eight years old. McCain, who was part of the Keating Five, apparently believes that no one should ever be able to be deemed a worthy acquaintance because they did regrettable things years ago. Somewhere Joseph McCarthy is smiling down (or, if you will, up) while John McCain and Sarah Palin hone the craft of McCaining as engineered by the same smear artists who brought down McCain’s bid in 2000. Terrorism is the new Communism, and there are McCain and Palin, stoking crowds to such over-the-top fury with their attempts to draw tortured connections between Obama and terrorism that you can actually hear people screaming, “Kill him!” when Obama’s name is mentioned. McCain’s belated attempts to suddenly defuse the crowd’s hostility, to describe Obama as a decent family man pales in comparison to the endless Obama=terrorism sentiments that he and his associates have endlessly stoked.
It’s so easy to draw nonsensical comparisons. McCain supporters mention repeatedly that Barack Obama’s middle name is the same as that of a terrorist and pretend it means something. Okay. Let’s point out that John McCain shares the initials and the first two letters of a first name and the first three letters of a surname as Joe McCarthy. Coincidence? We certainly have more evidence for parallel tactics in the McCain/McCarthy connection.
Why is McCain dropping in the polls? You can blame the economy, sure. But perhaps one small reason is that, quite simply, Americans aren’t nearly as stupid as the McCaininites think they are. Because back in 1954, the relatively new medium of television put McCarthy right into peoples’ living rooms and they saw up close the face of fear mongering, and they were repulsed by what they were seeing. It may well be we’re witnessing that again as McCain’s tactics are on view for all to see and people resent his thinking that they’re dumb enough to be suckered. Which isn’t to say that some people aren’t dumb enough. But in this day and age, deliberately trying to link someone to terrorism simply because you’re trying to become president is nothing short of vomitous. It is despicable. It is dishonorable.
Who is John McCain? He is a man who, with his current tactics, has proven that there is no line he will not cross, no slander he will not voice, if he thinks it offers a wisp of hope that he’ll win. Which moves me to ask:
Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?
PAD
• 
What scares me is that my 80 year old father-in-law still supports what went on in the McCarthy era.
You know, I may not be too fond of McCain right now and more than a little disappointed in how far he’s sunk this election cycle; but that comparison is grossly unfair to McCain. He is no where near the zealot or crusader that McCarthy was. McCain has occasionally stepped back from the brink and even looked uncomfortable with the reactions and anger his campaign has created.
McCarthy was a monster of his own creation and guided by his own decisions. I honestly believe that McCain has become a monster out of desperation and by listening to the wrong advisors. McCain still shows the occasional spark of conscience where McCarthy would have just cranked the rhetoric even higher.
Jerry Chandler:
But the McCain campaign still hasn’t actually stopped that sort of behavior, has it?
Over the years, every time I saw McCain talk about how great Bush was, I thought he was a coward for not standing up to the man that slandered his family. And now to use those same tactics, it’s simply impossible for me to think he has any integrity at all.
Jerry Chandler:
But the McCain campaign still hasn’t actually stopped that sort of behavior, has it?
Over the years, every time I saw McCain talk about how great Bush was, I thought he was a coward for not standing up to the man that slandered his family. And now to use those same tactics, it’s simply impossible for me to think he has any integrity at all.
Forget the first three letters, the last four is the name of the greatest murderer in history, responsible for the death of 25% of the human race.
And besides, I have it on good authority that he hung around anti-American Communists for six years.
Forget the first three letters, the last four is the name of the greatest murderer in history, responsible for the death of 25% of the human race.
And besides, I have it on good authority that he hung around anti-American Communists for six years.
I have to agree with Jerry on this one. McCain is doing some bad things, but not McCarthy bad yet. The Daily Show had a much better comparison tonight. McCain isn’t the monster, he’s just the mad scientist who was foolish enough to think he could control the monster.
Not that PAD doesn’t have a point. If the McCain campaign was having more success with this tactic (which could have happened if everything else hadn’t gone wrong for them), then others would have pushed these tactics even farther. Sooner or later someone who was as enthusiastic about hatred as McCarthy would have taken up the torch. So what McCain is allowing is definitely something that needs to be faught.
Well I think McCain still has some judging from his attempts to try and quell some of the more blatant ignorance he’s been faced with.
The Daily Show had a decent bit where they likenend him to Dr Frankenstein and how the mob was turning into the Monster.
Palin on the other hand, just does not get it.
Well I think McCain still has some judging from his attempts to try and quell some of the more blatant ignorance he’s been faced with.
The Daily Show had a decent bit where they likenend him to Dr Frankenstein and how the mob was turning into the Monster.
Palin on the other hand, just does not get it.
jasonk: Palin on the other hand, just does not get it.
Palin is addicted to being interesting.
When the troopergate report finally came out, it was a dog-bites-man story. Everyone knew what it was going to conclude, even the people who disagreed with it. Some papers wrote about it immediately, but the issue had already been rehashed a million times and there was nothing new to say.
The proper political thing for Palin to do was to give a noncommittal statement about it. Something that acknowledged their findings without quite admitting guilt. If she’d done that, she wouldn’t have given the media anything and the story would have faded.
Instead, she said the most interesting thing possible. She guaranteed that the story would get in the news again.
She loves the spotlight. She loves making people talk about her. She’s not capable of realizing that it isn’t always a good thing. We’re seeing the same thing in her rallies and some of her interviews, she’d rather rile things up than think through what’s best for her campaign.
If she were at the top of the ticket, she *would* be McCarthy. McCain is willing to destroy others, but she’s the one who is enthusiastic about it. And she’d want the whole world to see her do it, just like a comic book super-villain who’d rather take the chance on getting caught than pull the perfect crime that nobody knows about.
jasonk: Palin on the other hand, just does not get it.
Palin is addicted to being interesting.
When the troopergate report finally came out, it was a dog-bites-man story. Everyone knew what it was going to conclude, even the people who disagreed with it. Some papers wrote about it immediately, but the issue had already been rehashed a million times and there was nothing new to say.
The proper political thing for Palin to do was to give a noncommittal statement about it. Something that acknowledged their findings without quite admitting guilt. If she’d done that, she wouldn’t have given the media anything and the story would have faded.
Instead, she said the most interesting thing possible. She guaranteed that the story would get in the news again.
She loves the spotlight. She loves making people talk about her. She’s not capable of realizing that it isn’t always a good thing. We’re seeing the same thing in her rallies and some of her interviews, she’d rather rile things up than think through what’s best for her campaign.
If she were at the top of the ticket, she *would* be McCarthy. McCain is willing to destroy others, but she’s the one who is enthusiastic about it. And she’d want the whole world to see her do it, just like a comic book super-villain who’d rather take the chance on getting caught than pull the perfect crime that nobody knows about.
Oh please, Peter. What a freaking exaggeration! A little hyperbole, don’t you think? This is election politics. Part of it is to talk yourself up, the other part is to tear the other guy down. This is not why McCain is losing. He’s losing simly because people want change after the Bush years, and after the current financial crisis. They associate Obama with change, because that’s been his slogan all along, whether it has any substance or not. They equate McCain with the status quo, even though he and Bush have different conservative politics. McCain’s camp does have the right to attack Obama’s association with the Rev. Wright-they should have just done it sooner, rather than at the last minute. I saw those videos of Wright’s ‘preaching.’ What he said, wasn’t nearly as scary as the crowd agreeing with him, with their nodding heads and ‘uh-huhs.’ Obama sat in that church for 20 years, and was married by this guy. I mean, really?!
Oh please, Peter. What a freaking exaggeration! A little hyperbole, don’t you think? This is election politics. Part of it is to talk yourself up, the other part is to tear the other guy down. This is not why McCain is losing. He’s losing simly because people want change after the Bush years, and after the current financial crisis. They associate Obama with change, because that’s been his slogan all along, whether it has any substance or not. They equate McCain with the status quo, even though he and Bush have different conservative politics. McCain’s camp does have the right to attack Obama’s association with the Rev. Wright-they should have just done it sooner, rather than at the last minute. I saw those videos of Wright’s ‘preaching.’ What he said, wasn’t nearly as scary as the crowd agreeing with him, with their nodding heads and ‘uh-huhs.’ Obama sat in that church for 20 years, and was married by this guy. I mean, really?!
McCain has never had any sense of decency.
He’s had a sense of entitlement from the day he was born. And a sense of inferiority to his father and grandfather that he’s spent a life time trying to overcome.
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain
Connor said “I thought he was a coward for not standing up to the man that slandered his family. And now to use those same tactics, it’s simply impossible for me to think he has any integrity at all.”
Us the same tactics? He hired the same people!
This (The sucking up to Bush) was what clued me in that the McCain of 2000 was the lie. You don’t forgive attacks on your family for political expediency.
Patrick: Don’t try to sell the McCain is a maverick spiel. It’s not enough for a senator to say their against something. They actually have to vote that way too.
McCain has never had any sense of decency.
He’s had a sense of entitlement from the day he was born. And a sense of inferiority to his father and grandfather that he’s spent a life time trying to overcome.
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain
Connor said “I thought he was a coward for not standing up to the man that slandered his family. And now to use those same tactics, it’s simply impossible for me to think he has any integrity at all.”
Us the same tactics? He hired the same people!
This (The sucking up to Bush) was what clued me in that the McCain of 2000 was the lie. You don’t forgive attacks on your family for political expediency.
Patrick: Don’t try to sell the McCain is a maverick spiel. It’s not enough for a senator to say their against something. They actually have to vote that way too.
You know, I may not be too fond of McCain right now and more than a little disappointed in how far he’s sunk this election cycle; but that comparison is grossly unfair to McCain. He is no where near the zealot or crusader that McCarthy was.
I see no reason to wait until McCain reaches the same level of zealotry to point out that he’s using the same tactics, the same smears, the same guilt-by-association, the same exploiting of paranoia. In fact, in one respect, he’s worse: Only months ago he was denigrating the mere notion of negativism. Now his campaign hinges on the politics of association-with-terrorism.
You could almost say the comparison is unfair to McCarthy. At least McCarthy was consistent.
PAD
I think the best way to evaluate the two of them is to look at the bills they AUTHORED not the bills they supported, but the ones they were passionate about to pen themselves.
Which ever group authored the most bills you agree with, vote for them.
I think the fact that Kerry hadn’t done much of that in his 30 or so years in Congress hurt his chances.
As far as this rhetoric, you can compare Democrats to people from the middle ages because they like to think McCain couldn’t possibly be president because he had four moles removed. I don’t recall any stories of McCain getting people fired because they supported Obama. If you have any links feel free to post them, Pete, otherwise you are just sounding off.
As I have said, neither candidate is a good one as they both support spying on Americans. I’ve decided to cast my lot with Obama only because given the financial things going on this year, I want to see a return to practical regulations of the banking industry and I know that even though Obama is in bed with Freddie and Fannie, there’s less chance of a Republican doing anything.
I do stand ready to be disappointed once again, though.
I think the best way to evaluate the two of them is to look at the bills they AUTHORED not the bills they supported, but the ones they were passionate about to pen themselves.
Which ever group authored the most bills you agree with, vote for them.
I think the fact that Kerry hadn’t done much of that in his 30 or so years in Congress hurt his chances.
As far as this rhetoric, you can compare Democrats to people from the middle ages because they like to think McCain couldn’t possibly be president because he had four moles removed. I don’t recall any stories of McCain getting people fired because they supported Obama. If you have any links feel free to post them, Pete, otherwise you are just sounding off.
As I have said, neither candidate is a good one as they both support spying on Americans. I’ve decided to cast my lot with Obama only because given the financial things going on this year, I want to see a return to practical regulations of the banking industry and I know that even though Obama is in bed with Freddie and Fannie, there’s less chance of a Republican doing anything.
I do stand ready to be disappointed once again, though.
Sometime ago McCain,and I think he is still running ads that say this,accused Obama of putting ambition to be President above country. Well with how McCain has run his campagin it is obvious who is putting ambition above country. About two years ago when this campagin started this is one democrat that actually thought he would be comfortable voting for McCain. Thank god for the two year campagin!We have seen the real McCain. A man that is fighting in Iraq to some how validate the Viet Nam war.I guess if we stayed there for a hundred years,as he said about Iraq,we might have “won”. Some one who believes if you are not in lock step with him you are un-patriotic. Someone who appeals to the worst in his supporters,and feeds it. Some one that after being called on it has the nerve to blame the people that he is attacking to apoligize to him!
A Presidential canidate whose first important decision,a vice-president,picks the most unqualified person in the country.Some one that grand stands in the greatest economic crisis since the depression decides to “suspend” his campagin,and thought people would actually believe it. It does bring to mind Senator Clinton’s three O’clock in the morning ad does ,any one really want John McCain picking up that phone?
Sometime ago McCain,and I think he is still running ads that say this,accused Obama of putting ambition to be President above country. Well with how McCain has run his campagin it is obvious who is putting ambition above country. About two years ago when this campagin started this is one democrat that actually thought he would be comfortable voting for McCain. Thank god for the two year campagin!We have seen the real McCain. A man that is fighting in Iraq to some how validate the Viet Nam war.I guess if we stayed there for a hundred years,as he said about Iraq,we might have “won”. Some one who believes if you are not in lock step with him you are un-patriotic. Someone who appeals to the worst in his supporters,and feeds it. Some one that after being called on it has the nerve to blame the people that he is attacking to apoligize to him!
A Presidential canidate whose first important decision,a vice-president,picks the most unqualified person in the country.Some one that grand stands in the greatest economic crisis since the depression decides to “suspend” his campagin,and thought people would actually believe it. It does bring to mind Senator Clinton’s three O’clock in the morning ad does ,any one really want John McCain picking up that phone?
Well written, Peter.
Well written, Peter.
Thank you, Elayne.
PAD
Thank you, Elayne.
PAD
As far as this rhetoric, you can compare Democrats to people from the middle ages because they like to think McCain couldn’t possibly be president because he had four moles removed.
I suppose I could. But since, to the best of my knowledge, the Democratic candidates aren’t among them, I don’t quite see the point.
Sounds to me like you’re just sounding off.
PAD
As far as this rhetoric, you can compare Democrats to people from the middle ages because they like to think McCain couldn’t possibly be president because he had four moles removed.
I suppose I could. But since, to the best of my knowledge, the Democratic candidates aren’t among them, I don’t quite see the point.
Sounds to me like you’re just sounding off.
PAD
I don’t know that the comparison is entirely fair yet, but it’s certainly well worth pointing out how easily things could swing in that direction given just a little more coaxing.
I think the point made above about Palin being much more Joe McCarthy than McCain is well taken. I’m trying to remember the last time I saw a VP candidate embrace the “attack dog” role with quite this level of bloodlust.
Here’s hoping Palin retreats back into obscurity in 21 days.
I don’t know that the comparison is entirely fair yet, but it’s certainly well worth pointing out how easily things could swing in that direction given just a little more coaxing.
I think the point made above about Palin being much more Joe McCarthy than McCain is well taken. I’m trying to remember the last time I saw a VP candidate embrace the “attack dog” role with quite this level of bloodlust.
Here’s hoping Palin retreats back into obscurity in 21 days.
Is it me, or did Obama set McCain a trap for this debate by challenging McCain to bring up Ayers on the debate?
Depends how you define “trap,” I guess. It could just be seen as Obama challenging McCain to give him an opportunity to rebut the assertions face to face. And I’ll guarantee you that Obama has something ready to go that he’s got memorized to come back with.
I’m reminded of when Lloyd Bentsen pounced on Dan Quayle with the “You’re no Jack Kennedy” line. Quayle had, in fact, used the JFK comparison before, and Bentsen was waiting in the high weeds for Quayle to bring it up during the debate with the carefully scripted zinger already in place. My guess is that if McCain does bring it up, Obama is going to come back with a memorable sound bite that everyone will be talking about tomorrow.
PAD
Depends how you define “trap,” I guess. It could just be seen as Obama challenging McCain to give him an opportunity to rebut the assertions face to face. And I’ll guarantee you that Obama has something ready to go that he’s got memorized to come back with.
I’m reminded of when Lloyd Bentsen pounced on Dan Quayle with the “You’re no Jack Kennedy” line. Quayle had, in fact, used the JFK comparison before, and Bentsen was waiting in the high weeds for Quayle to bring it up during the debate with the carefully scripted zinger already in place. My guess is that if McCain does bring it up, Obama is going to come back with a memorable sound bite that everyone will be talking about tomorrow.
PAD
How does McCain harvesting fear knowingly not make several degrees more severe?
How does McCain’s persistence in fine-tuning his scare tactics to survive McCarthy not make it several degrees more pernicious? Dude, review the nonsense you’re leaving here.
PAD, I’ve always respected your opinions, most especially where they differed from mine, because you would stand up for what you believed. But comparing McCain to McCarthyism has just dropped my respectometer down significantly. That is such an invalid comparison and so far beneath you that I’m shocked. Wow.
PAD, I’ve always respected your opinions, most especially where they differed from mine, because you would stand up for what you believed. But comparing McCain to McCarthyism has just dropped my respectometer down significantly. That is such an invalid comparison and so far beneath you that I’m shocked. Wow.
Well, if McCain refuses to refer to his anti-Ayers tactics, then the Obama campaign can turn around and dismiss it because McCain has specifically refused to confront Obama on it. The people who believe McCain won’t stand for Obama commercials saying McCain refused to go for what they see as an obvious kill, and start withholding their support. There seems to be no disadvantage to Obama challenging McCain to confront him on it.
Well, if McCain refuses to refer to his anti-Ayers tactics, then the Obama campaign can turn around and dismiss it because McCain has specifically refused to confront Obama on it. The people who believe McCain won’t stand for Obama commercials saying McCain refused to go for what they see as an obvious kill, and start withholding their support. There seems to be no disadvantage to Obama challenging McCain to confront him on it.
That is such an invalid comparison and so far beneath you that I’m shocked.
Invalid? Really? Well, let’s see:
Senator? Check.
Seeking power? Check.
Appealing to national paranoia? Check.
Linking people to “known” figures of disrepute? Check.
Insinuating wrong-doing as a consequence? Check.
Getting people worked up as a result, making them fearful and angry? Check.
Nope. Looks pretty valid to me.
PAD
That is such an invalid comparison and so far beneath you that I’m shocked.
Invalid? Really? Well, let’s see:
Senator? Check.
Seeking power? Check.
Appealing to national paranoia? Check.
Linking people to “known” figures of disrepute? Check.
Insinuating wrong-doing as a consequence? Check.
Getting people worked up as a result, making them fearful and angry? Check.
Nope. Looks pretty valid to me.
PAD
When I said that Obama set a trap for McCain, I wasn’t trying to criticize Obama. I’m actually surprised about McCain. Didn’t he watch Back to the Future 1-3?
When I said that Obama set a trap for McCain, I wasn’t trying to criticize Obama. I’m actually surprised about McCain. Didn’t he watch Back to the Future 1-3?
Technically that was only in BTTF 2 & 3, but I was JUST thinking that. “Nobody calls me chicken.”
PAD
Technically that was only in BTTF 2 & 3, but I was JUST thinking that. “Nobody calls me chicken.”
PAD
I do think the Ayers stuff is BS. But if the media is going to bring it up every time they talk about Obama, the least they should do is talk about the secessionist Alaska Independence Party.
I also don’t think it’s a small deal when a Government Panel rules the Vice Presidential candidate violated State ethics laws. Especially if that candidate is suppose to “clean up Washington.
This is not guilt by association, it’s just plain guilt.
I do think the Ayers stuff is BS. But if the media is going to bring it up every time they talk about Obama, the least they should do is talk about the secessionist Alaska Independence Party.
I also don’t think it’s a small deal when a Government Panel rules the Vice Presidential candidate violated State ethics laws. Especially if that candidate is suppose to “clean up Washington.
This is not guilt by association, it’s just plain guilt.
There is a bright side to all that. The GOP did their worst to bring Obama down, and they failed. They tried to say he is a terrorist, a muslim, a black supremacist, they even used those vile kindergarten ads to imply Obama is a pedophile. And nothing worked.
The dimwits actually made Obama invulnerable. Even if a new damaging fact comes to light about Obama now, people will just assume it’s more bûllšhìŧ the GOP is making up to smear Obama.
Obama will win, and there is nothing McCain can do about it. A “positive” campaign will not work either, because McCain just isn’t appealing (particularly with the finantial crisis) and Palin just looks more unprepared the more you look at her.
The only way McCain can win is if (knocks on wood) there is a new terrorist attack on US soil before the election.
I don’t think McCain is seething from holding back a “nobody calls me chicken” moment than he’s seething from holding back a “you can’t handle the truth” moment. It justifies fabricating the transfer orders so to speak.
I don’t think McCain is seething from holding back a “nobody calls me chicken” moment than he’s seething from holding back a “you can’t handle the truth” moment. It justifies fabricating the transfer orders so to speak.
Just a quick note from a long-time lurker.
PAD, I’ve enjoyed both your comics and your books in the past. They have always struck me as well written, compelling, and with great humor. I came to your blog some years ago to see what else you had to say about the world, and I have to say that quite frankly I am sorry I did so. The fact that you are an unrepentant liberal has never been hidden, and I respect your personal choices, but recently I have found myself beyond disgust by the things said by your commenters, and today by what you yourself said. This will probably mean absolutely nothing to you-I don’t believe what you believe, I’ve never commented on your board before, and you won’t notice the loss of one customer, but I won’t be buying any more of your books or comics. They are pretty much poisoned for me now. Goodbye, Sir Apropos.
Quite frankly, this election terrifies me. It’s an incredibly important decision that we will be making, and choosing Senator Obama will be a mistake I fear the country and my children will be paying for long after I’m gone. I am one of those who will be holding my nose when I vote for McCain as I’m not particularly fond of his policies either, but he is far and away the better choice this year. Obama stands condemned by his own words to plumber Joe Wurzelbacher as reported just about everywhere yesterday. As far as his connections to William Ayers, or Jeremiah Wright, or Frank Davis, I don’t think McCain or Palin need to work to get everyone upset about them-once people simply learn the truth they get quite worked up all on their own.
Should your hopes be fulfilled and Obama be elected, then I hope that I am wrong in my beliefs about what the future will bring. Unlike some others in the last few elections, I will not make noises about moving to Canada should things not go my way and will instead stay here and try to make things better in whatever small ways I can. I just hope and pray that when someone draws aside the curtain on the “real Obama” that it doesn’t blind us all.
Just a quick note from a long-time lurker.
PAD, I’ve enjoyed both your comics and your books in the past. They have always struck me as well written, compelling, and with great humor. I came to your blog some years ago to see what else you had to say about the world, and I have to say that quite frankly I am sorry I did so. The fact that you are an unrepentant liberal has never been hidden, and I respect your personal choices, but recently I have found myself beyond disgust by the things said by your commenters, and today by what you yourself said. This will probably mean absolutely nothing to you-I don’t believe what you believe, I’ve never commented on your board before, and you won’t notice the loss of one customer, but I won’t be buying any more of your books or comics. They are pretty much poisoned for me now. Goodbye, Sir Apropos.
Quite frankly, this election terrifies me. It’s an incredibly important decision that we will be making, and choosing Senator Obama will be a mistake I fear the country and my children will be paying for long after I’m gone. I am one of those who will be holding my nose when I vote for McCain as I’m not particularly fond of his policies either, but he is far and away the better choice this year. Obama stands condemned by his own words to plumber Joe Wurzelbacher as reported just about everywhere yesterday. As far as his connections to William Ayers, or Jeremiah Wright, or Frank Davis, I don’t think McCain or Palin need to work to get everyone upset about them-once people simply learn the truth they get quite worked up all on their own.
Should your hopes be fulfilled and Obama be elected, then I hope that I am wrong in my beliefs about what the future will bring. Unlike some others in the last few elections, I will not make noises about moving to Canada should things not go my way and will instead stay here and try to make things better in whatever small ways I can. I just hope and pray that when someone draws aside the curtain on the “real Obama” that it doesn’t blind us all.
Obama will win, and there is nothing McCain can do about it. A “positive” campaign will not work either, because McCain just isn’t appealing (particularly with the finantial crisis) and Palin just looks more unprepared the more you look at her.
One of my favorite parts was when McCain’s campaign manager actually said, in so many words, that they keep bringing up Ayers and Wright because if they talk about the economy, they’ll lose. I just loved that. It’s like they’re trying to throw themselves under a bus. “We’ve lost, everybody! We admit it!”
The Ayers connection, meanwhile, isn’t panning out the way McCain hoped. We’re now getting documentation of McCain’s connections to Ayers, so, if you’re going to condemn Obama for doing business with Ayers, best condemn them all.