NYT Editorial: McCain-Palin Have Sunk Into "Race-Baiting And Xenophobia"

The New York Times harshly criticized the McCain-Palin campaign in an editorial Wednesday:

It is a sorry fact of American political life that campaigns get ugly, often in their final weeks. But Senator John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin have been running one of the most appalling campaigns we can remember.

They have gone far beyond the usual fare of quotes taken out of context and distortions of an opponent's record -- into the dark territory of race-baiting and xenophobia. Senator Barack Obama has taken some cheap shots at Mr. McCain, but there is no comparison.

...

[Palin's] demagoguery has elicited some frightening, intolerable responses. A recent Washington Post report said at a rally in Florida this week a man yelled "kill him!" as Ms. Palin delivered that line and others shouted epithets at an African-American member of a TV crew.

Mr. McCain's aides haven't even tried to hide their cynical tactics, saying they were "going negative" in hopes of shifting attention away from the financial crisis -- and by implication Mr. McCain's stumbling response.

We certainly expected better from Mr. McCain, who once showed withering contempt for win-at-any-cost politics. He was driven out of the 2000 Republican primaries by this sort of smear, orchestrated by some of the same people who are now running his campaign.

Of McCain's relatively civil debate performance, the paper said:

Ninety minutes of forced cordiality did not erase the dismal ugliness of his campaign in recent weeks, nor did it leave us with much hope that he would not just return to the same dismal ugliness on Wednesday.

Read the whole thing.

Comments

[AlteSoldier]

John McCain really really really really hates Obama!

[emstrem]

Why is Obama not ahead in the national polls by at least 35% ??? Here is a bright , educated guy, with a pretty good vision of what he wants to do with this country (not great, but pretty good), and his VP is an okay, safe choice. On the other side of the coin is this fossil, John McCain, who is 72 years old. He brings nothing to the table other than personal gain, he wants to end up with a higher rank than his father had, his vision for this country is pretty much for the wealthy, his VP choice is a joke, probably the real reason he is running is so his name isn't lost to history.

O yeah, the reason a lot of American's would rather have McCain as the president, and the reason that Obama isn't leading by at least 35% as any other democrat at this stage would be....is because he is black. To his credit he hasn't brought it up much, he hasn't made a big issue about it, but it is the elephant in the room. Like it or not. And I dont necessarily believe its because of racists in this country, although that is some of it. It is more complex than that. But why else can you explain a democrat not leading this thing by a substantial margin?

[candlewax]

melanin

[Topfeeder]

Correct!

[Thomas1168]

It is because he is black............. I was just in PA two weeks age and speaking with different people they have to be some of the most racist people I have ever met. I am white but my wife is black and my children are mixed. When in Pa I mention Obama they make the most racist remarks they can look down and see my 7 year old and give a foot in mouth look.



ITS SAD

[dm92]

Hopefully, those clowns are outnumbered by the reasonable people.

[rpd123]

You are forgetting that there are a lot of Republicans in this country, who would vote for a GOP Golden Retriever over any Democrat.

[Pegi]

its called race!!!! sorry and sad but its the truth - its the only reason that is fathomable. he has put forth a wonderful plan for the future, is cordial, intelligent, graceful and has impeccable manners. he even looks like a president so stately and graceful. sad to say but its his race. but people forget that he is half white!!!!!

[kadene]

Should they have to remember?

[kadene]

People are also afraid of change. There is a palpable fear of losing your privileges and having your sense of entitlement threatened by having a president who is not white. After all, it has never been tried before. What if the other blacks get uppity too, and start to educate themselves like this Obama? Pretty soon, they'll feel important, like they should run for President too.

It may be less threatening if they are kept under the boot.

This POV hasn't been spelled out, but oh, it is felt.

[POTUS2008]

McCains camp is offering up the only distinguishing triats that they can highlight. they have not much to offer us; the upward movement of capital fromt he workign class up to the rich bankers and capitalists is hardly a selling point htis year! so what else can tthey offer? crap.

[ThanksMatt]

Read this article in The Guardian (UK) to see what they think about dear Sarah.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/oct/03/sarah.palin.debate.feminism

[harriettubman]

Great article. Palin uses her husband's ancestry as a crutch. Looking at Todd Palin's European features, I wonder how much Eskimo is really in him. I'm part Native American, probably closer than Todd, but qualify for no free programs like they do.

[MSgt]

Senator McCain answered alot of questions last night. If you don't have the guts to say what he and Gov. Palin have bee saying about Senator Obama to his face, then how can he talk tough about how he'd engage dictators. Talks tough in a crowd but unable to stand up to a man. The ultimate sign of weakness.

[t mout]

Aren't all bullies really cowards?

[MSgt]

yup yup

[Sculptore99]

Well...This is what Mrs McCain said..."Cindy McCain said today that she expects her husband to clear the record at tonight's debate and let America know where he truly stands.

McCain, who stopped to visit a half-dozen children at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt today, said the presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama has "waged the dirtiest campaign in American history," and her husband Sen. John McCain will use tonight's debate to correct the distortions.

Can someone please send her a copy of the NYT article please!

[yeswecancan]

The problem with Sarah Palin as the lipsticked attack dog: the more you poke, the more stink there is under her surface. She talks about Sen. Obama being outside the mainstream but she has a Kenyan witch doctor pray over her, "rebuking every form of witchcraft" from the Veep nominee. And she excoriates Sen. Obama for his "associations", but Joe Voegel, founder of the Alaskan Independent Party, has said the following:
"The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government, and I won't be buried under their damn flag."
Palin has attended at least 3 AIP conventions, spoke to their gathering as Governor and her husband was a registered member of the party for years. And why does she wear ONLY the Alaskan state flag pin most of the time? Does SHE hate America too?
And let's not forget Sen. McCain's connection to his own unrepentant terrorist G. Gordon Liddy who masterminded Watergate, advised Branch Davidians to aim for Federal ATF Agents' heads and expressed admiration for Hitler, all while having John McCain a guest on his radio show where McCain could fawn over Liddy and Liddy could reciprocate by holding a fundraiser for McCain and contributing $5,000 to his campaigns, $1,000 this year. Yeah ... let's talk about guilt by association. Watch this scary expose of the AIP/Palin connection:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eniG9l_7its
And the witch doctor, with a laugh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN7hJDS26rI

[AlaskasRevenge]

Vetting:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Broadly, vetting is a process of examination and evaluation. Specifically, vetting often refers to performing a background check on someone before offering them employment.

THE 2006 VETTING OF SARAH PALIN

***** The complete 63 page report *****
http://mudflats.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/palin-2006-vetting.pdf

She was never vetted for Vice President.

[Sabreen60]

I wonder what her Al@skan women friends think of her now?

[cmonppl]

Ugh. She is an embarrassment to women everywhere, not just America. What a disgrace. When McCain said 'my fellow prisoners', she nodded and said, 'yeah' . The whole spectacle is like a version of 'Mean Girls' on steroids.

[L3ftofC3nter]

Sometimes America makes me weep.

[BannedInBoston]

Wake Up America!

(America snorts, rolls over, goes back to sleep....)

[Cheryllou]

As a mother I am so appalled by what I'm reading I can't sit still. It's disgusting to see what the republican party has become. Ms Palin fail to realize that one day her kids will grow up and read about this. It's sickening to the core.

[PeepingTom]

if her children can read. Doesn't seem like any of 'em go to school much.

[kadene]

Like she cares. Her handlers just wind her up, and she moves as instructed.

[ObamanextPresident]

If one is under the delusion that they have been chosen by God for the end times, they believe their children will also have a righteous place in God's army against the pagan non-believers (code: democratic liberals).

[Contrapuntist]

Amazingly enough, as bad as this election is, I was reminded that there have also been some real doozies in American history.

http://www.cracked.com/article_16680_5-presidential-elections-even-dumber-than-this-one-somehow.html

[Gotcha54]

- + NoSandwiches See Profile I'm a Fan of NoSandwiches I'm a fan of this user permalink
Actually I watch Morning Joe sometimes. This morning Joe admitted that it was a bad idea to have a republican congress and a republican president because they did not do right by the country.

Joe I expect to be a jerk, and he surprises by being reasonable sometimes.
Mika is terrible. She adds nothing good to the conversation, but is the most liberal one on the show most of the time.

It actually gives me hope to see that Joe has matured in his views....

I watch it nearly every morning though it make me so mad. It's terrible - Joe is just a dominating freak on the Republican party and when he and Pat Buchanan are on at the same time forget it.

[babyboomerorig]

I can't believe that McCain and Palin let the audience get away with these comments.

We're better than this.

[DragonFly]

"We're better than this."

Yea ... but they aren't.

[judyc]

That picture of Palin about to hug McCain makes me wonder--do you think he gets "excited" when she does?

[Gotcha54]

Why do you think Cindy has been very close at all times now. When they first started with Palin and McCain - Cindy was absent at a few of those stump speeches - no anymore! She's watching like a hawk with big purse strings!

[rpd123]

LOL! Thank you for that disturbing visual!!

Assault with a dead weapon, that would be.

[Mygirl]

I have said it before. Sarah Palin is dangerous and ruthless. McCane is sleeping with the devil and he is to desperate at becoming president to know this . What McCane doesn't know is that Palin is aiming for the job of president as well. Need I say more.

[ThanksMatt]

You tell it. Let us pray for the light to succeed!!!