Okay, okay...so the title of this post is a little bit harsh. Especially since this is going to (mostly) positive about John McCain.
If you happened to have read my earlier blog, I ended it by referencing McCain's refusal to diffuse the angry, divisive, and certainly untrue slurs shouted by and being propagated by his supporters (whether it be on the internet or on the stump).
I wonder if he heard me. Or, probably more importantly, I wonder if he heard his former head strategist, John Weaver:
“People need to understand, for moral reasons and the protection of our civil society, the differences with Senator Obama are ideological, based on clear differences on policy and a lack of experience compared to Senator McCain. And from a purely practical political vantage point, please find me a swing voter, an undecided independent, or a torn female voter that finds an angry mob mentality attractive”
Look, I even included the whole entire quote which is positive for McCain. That's because I'm not a tool.
So, McCain, much to the chagrin of his attendees to his town-hall meeting, he stepped up. I must make a note, first, that I really don't understand a town-hall format meeting when it's for one candidate. It seems that all the people that go there are supporters of the candidate, so no tough questions are asked, just sound-byte feeders and cheerleaders.
Anyway, yes, McCain stepped up. One man who had the microphone expressed that they were “scared” of an Obama presidency. McCain answered that “I have to tell you...I have to tell you, he is a decent person, and a person you don't have to be scared as President of the United States.” This was quickly booed by the crowd.
Later in the same meeting, a woman said, “
Clearly Arabs are not decent, family men!
No, if I was a spin artist, that's how I'd turn this to be anti-McCain. I know, though, that he was cutting her off at the pass, so that she didn't spew more filth from her mouth. But she did, after the meeting:
"You can't trust Barack Hussein Obama because he is a Muslim and a terrorist."
Wow. I kind of wish that had been on a video plastered on the internet, like the two earlier encounters.
So, in essence, I'm pleased with McCain finally taking a stance and seeking to quell the growing storm of divisiveness and dissension that is tearing the nation and its people apart.
Video: http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=10151747
[Note: Contrary to what some people have expressed to me, use of Barack's full name IS an attempt to play an association with Saddam Hussein, and in turn, the fear of many Americans toward anything considered “arab” or from the middle east. Even McCain's own campaign has disavowed use of it. Not recognizing that fact is just plain ignorance, at this point.]
1 comments:
Unfortunately, since McCain grew a spine, or backtracked, he's returned to the character assassination approach. Now it's "socialism" and, with Palin and others, "anti-America". I expect the Rev. Jeremiah Wright will be revived as a scary Halloween figure. Unfairly, in my opinion: once you put the sound bites into the context of his full sermons, they're prophetic statements that are well within the bounds of the tradition of the Hebrew prophets.
Speaking of the anti-Muslim issue, Colin Powell did the beautiful thing that McCain really should have and could have done. However, for sure, McCain gets credit for those couple of attempts to control his crowds. Needs more work, though. And I wouldn't bet on him saying much more along those lines.
I hope you'll cross-post at CrossLeft, Mike.
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