I saw this ad posted on the Drudge Report today, and it immediately made me feel both sad and angry. Sad because this is the state of politics in the McCain campaign, and angry because there are many Americans who don't have the ability to process complex information and will derive their opinion of Barack Obama through these types of smear ads.
This ad shows that there is no depths too deep for Mr. McCain to go. Karl Rove must be so proud. Our country is so thirsty right now for a positive voice, so anxious about our financial crisis and downright eager to have someone lead with a steady hand, and this is all the McCain/Palin group can muster? It's disgraceful and nauseating to me that McCain can stand up with that big grin on his face, calling us all his 'friends" and then blatantly lie to us about the facts. It reminds me of the ice skater Nancy Kerrigan and the incident that occured in 1994. Ms. Kerrigan was ahead in competition and Tonya Harding saw her chances of a win waning. Because she couldn't win on her own merit, she had her husband club Nancy Kerrigan in the knee, causing a serious injury.
Barack Obama has been a tough competitor but he has never questioned John McCain's patriotism, and has never put John McCain's life in danger with rhetoric. The McCain/Palin team seems to have no shame in ramping up their crowds with hate and misinformation. If anything were to happen to Barack Obama from here till the election, hundreds of thousands of American citizens will hold John McCain personally responsible.
I hope with all my heart that on election day American's will choose the candidate who has the dignity and compassion to lead us in the coming four years. My choice will be Barack Obama.
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Umm, sorry, but I've followed the campaigns as closely as anyone and I've never heard Senator McCain or Governor Palin 'ramp up the crowds with hate and misinformation.' I have heard the media and many Obama supporters claim this - but too often, it seems to be a reaction to anyone daring to question the motives, politics, or truthfulness of their candidates - which is what political campaigning is all about. (And I have heard Obama supporters claim everything - from questioning Senator McCain's patriotism to his sanity - to ridiculing Governor Palin in the meanest, snidest ways possible - but that's okay because they're Republicans.)
The scariest thing to me in this entire campaign is what happened to 'Joe the Plumber.' When he 'dared' to question Senator Obama's tax plan publicly, his entire personal life was rifled and stripped bare by Senator Obama's supporters in the media in an effort to humiliate and discredit him. This sent a chilling message across the country that any ordinary citizen who questions Senator Obama's policies better watch out because they'll pay the price for their 'audacity.' (Joe was castigated for owing $1,100 in back taxes; but William Ayres gets a pass for blowing up the Pentagon.)
I truly shake my head at the double standard that runs throughout this campaign. It was typified most recently by the Halloween effigies that were found hanging in two places across the country. It was 'Whoo-hooo!' Isn't that funny to see Sarah Palin hanging from a house in West Hollywood; the police looked the other way, indulgently. But when a Halloween effigy of Barack Obama was found hanging from a tree in Kentucky, there was instant outrage. It was a 'hate crime' and the 'criminals' were arrested and face felony charges.
Now let's be very clear: I find both acts reprehensible and tasteless. But the double standard in play here simply can't be denied or excused.
Suffice it to say that politics, like religion, evokes strong reactions in people. Too often, reason and civility are the first casualties. Why? Because for many, we invest our sense of identity and self-worth in the candidates we favor; and when somebody disagrees with our choice, we feel attacked. The old biological programming kicks in and 'fight or flight' become our only two options. When it's 'fight' we bare the fangs, and snarl, and bite back ferociously.
The end result of this is usually a lot of bad feelings, anger, and people not speaking to each other. Sorry, but I'm 'de-investing.' Go ahead and campaign for Senator Obama; support him and his policies and politics. That's your right; and we live in a country where we have the freedom to disagree (unless you're Joe the Plumber). I support and respect your right to express and act on your convictions. And wouldn't it be a better country if everyone lived by that precept?
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