McCain Walks It Back: Obama Is Decent, Nothing To Be Scared Of

John McCain sought to walk back some of the hostility that he and his crowds have projected towards Barack Obama in recent days, saying he wanted to run a respectful campaign and urging his supporters to think of Obama as a decent person.

After an attendee at his town hall said he was concerned about bringing up a child under a president who "cohorts with domestic terrorists such as [Bill] Ayers," McCain didn't take the bait. Rather, he sought to calm the questioner's obviously emotional tone.

"[Senator Obama] is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared about as President of the United States," he said, before adding: "If I didn't think I would be one heck of a better president I wouldn't be running."

McCain was subsequently booed.

Later in the townhall McCain was pressed again about Obama's "other-ness" and again he refused to take the bait.

"He is a decent family man and citizen that I just have disagreements with on fundamental issues," he said.

Earlier in the campaign stop in Lakeville, Minnesota, he told the crowd that while he was "going to take the gloves off" when it came to bringing up Obama's voting record and past associations, the campaign would remain "respectful."

There are two possible interpretations to the somewhat conciliatory tone. McCain could be sensing a political backlash to the vitriol of his crowds, which have labeled Obama a terrorist and traitor, accused him of treason, and called for his death. Certainly, polling suggests raising the Ayers issue has done relatively little to advance McCain's electoral cause. Or he could be playing a classic political game, in which he leaves the mudslinging to his campaign and vice president while he himself stays clean and above the fray.

After all, just hours before McCain spoke, his aide Brian Rogers sent a statement to reporters defending the McCain-Palin audiences as everyday Americans.

Comments

[thisone]

In 2003 our president tried to convince us that Saddam Hussein was a terrorist with a secret stash of weapons of mass destruction. Eventually, we discovered that Hussein had no WMDs and he had not met with any Al Qaeda terrorists leading up to 9/11. Saddam was an evil man but we were manipulated using fear based on a lie. Thousands have died, our country is broke.

In 2008, the Republican nominee has tried to convince us that Barack Obama is a member of an organization with terrorist members. Anyone who takes the time to investigate the details will find that the "terrost organization" is actually a charitable organization founded by a Reagan appointee. A man who donated over US$2 billion to to education over his lifetime. Buildings, libraries, theaters, hospitals, and museums across the United States are named after him. I would be willing to bet that most Americans have read publications coming from this "organization populated by terrorists" - the two best known are TV Guide and Seventeen Magazine!

Are Republicans surprised to find Americans are now fact checkers and simply will no longer take them at their word?

McCain is learning something that George Bush already knows. When Americans discover they have been manipulated using fear - the consequences are dire.

[thisone]

In 2003 our president tried to convince us that Saddam Hussein was a terrorist with a secret stash of weapons of mass destruction. Eventually, we discovered that Hussein had no WMDs and he had not met with any Al Qaeda terrorists leading up to 9/11.

In 2008, the Republican nominee has tried to convince us that Barack Obama is a member of an organization with terrorist members. Anyone who takes the time to investigate the details will find that the "terrost organization" is actually a charitable organization founded by a Reagan appointee. A man who donated over US$2 billion to to education over his lifetime. Buildings, libraries, theaters, hospitals, and museums across the United States are named after him. I would be willing to bet that most Americans have read publications coming from this "organization populated by terrorists" - the two best known are TV Guide and Seventeen Magazine!

Are Republicans surprised that Americans are now fact checkers and simply will no longer take them at their word? And when we discovered we're being lied to - the consequences are dire.

[metatron1970]

I never thought I'd see the day I'd actually weep at anything McCain would have to say, but his comment about how Obama is a decent man that we don't need to fear being President actually touched me. You have to feel sorry for him: a fomerly honorable man whose advisers have been running a grotesque, ridiculous campaign engineered by the evangelical fanatics who have hijacked the GOP. He knows it's all bull$hit, but he hasn't stopped with the malicious attack ads which are of the most shameless in political history. For once he's done the right thing for his constituents and the country--the only time over the past eight months in which he's lived up to the promise to keep a respectable campaign. I hope for his sake that on November 4th he will be able to lose with dignity and, as evidenced in this recent rally, placate the fears of the potentially violent fringe elements of his Party that are truly disturbed by the prospect of an Obama Administration.

[BIG JOHN]

LET THE CHURCH SAY AMEN!!!!!!!!GREAT POST.

[Tulka2]

...Okay...­But i had to notice. McCain did not say, "Obama is a decent, Christian man".
I myself am not Christian, but Obama is and that vile mob thinks he is Muslim. Not that there's anything wrong with that either, don't misunderstand me, but McCain choose not to say Obama "is Christian" in that hate crowd. I can not muster up any tragic feeling for McCain yet.

Did you see the Shakespeare proffessor on the Colbert Report last week? He made the point that the tragedy of the millitary hero who wants to be king is one of Shakespeare's favorite themes. It never works out.

[GoBarryGo]

He also did not say Obama is an *American* -- he would only go so far as to say "citizen." Subtle but huge difference, especially in the miniscule minds of the kinds of people who support McCain.

I saw that Colbert Report show with the Shakespeare professor. Being an English major, I was very interested in his analysis. Obviously those themes are as relatable today as they were in Shakespeare's time.

[Tulka2]

You will notice McCain did not acknowledge Obama to be a Christian. No accident. McCain is a creep.

[BIG JOHN]

I DON'T NEED JOHN MCCAIN, SARAH I ABUSED MY POWER AS GOV. PALIN, OR ANY OF THOSE MORONS AT THIER RALLEYS TO TELL ME OBAMA IS DECENT. OH JUST BECAUSE MCTHULSILA SAYS IT, OBAMA'S OK. TO LITTLE TO LATE.

ISN'T IT TIME THE REP. THAW OUT BEN LA DEN AND SAY WE'VE GOT HIM AND IT WAS MCCAIN HE TOLD US HOW TO DO IT. YOU THINK?

[JenIA]

Props to KeystoneProgress.org for The Disasta from Alaska-Sarah Palin trading card to be distributed in honor of her dropping the puck at the Flyers game!!!

"Rookie Right Winger"
http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/Palin-Card.pdf

[wideawakenow]

What a shame that people in this country that yell "kill him" and "terrorist" in a crowd of hostiles are considered "everyday Americans". How embarrassing that this country has 1/3 of it's citizens that would go along with that.
The young people in America have to save us from these people. On Nov 4 get all your friends out to vote!

[emmaspeaks]

Tune in next week for "Who will we see? Jekyll or Hyde?"

[Nana1234]

Fellow Americans, as my son is married to an Arab-American who is a Christian and comes from a Christian family, I would like to make a statement regarding "Arabs." All Arabs are not Muslim and All Muslims are not terriorists. Why are all Arabs to be feared, anyway? People are individuals and there are good and bad in in all groups. I am so glad that the younger generations realize that as world travel becomes more and more common, they will encounter people of all nationalities, cultures, and ethnicities. They are more inclined to judge people by the content of their character, and that is a good thing.

[Indie2008]

Arab-Americans, Chicago residents, liberals, foreigners, even Harvard law graduates- Is there anyone left for McCain and Palin to insult? Intelligent people can see through his desperate pandering, but that's not his target audience,is it?

[Seven7s]

Yeah but the problem is the vast majority of Americans are in no way intelligent.

[magggs]

"Obama is a decent person" John McCain
"Obama is a godless liberal baby-killer who pals around with domestic terrorists­." McCain's soulmate.
"NOBAMA NOBAMA HUSSEIN TRAITOR KILL KILL @#$%^&&!!!" McCain rally

Yeah, Johnny, you've really convinced us.

[Jules1]

Palin go home, McCain go to bed, sorry you two you already opened Pandora's box,. They are still attacking, McCain's word means nothing... run them both out,liars.­..........­........

[gregjones]

Hello fellow Warriors..­.I am Greg Jones, National Director of Blacks4Bar­ack....in harmony with millions of Whites4Bar­ack...Asia­ns4Barack.­..Hispanic­s4Barack..­.Jews4Bara­ck...Repub­licans4Bar­ack...Men4­Barack...W­omen4Barac­k....Stude­nts4Barack­....and united we are all... AMERICANS4­BARACK....­Together, We WILL Make The Difference !

MUST HEAR ! Donna Brazille's powerful race speech....­also Alaskan Independent Party Founder Joe Voegler speaks of his hatred for America and More ! ! Listen to Obama Talk Radio.....­Nothing But The Truth with Greg Jones. What MSM omits....y­ou'll hear on NBTT !

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/HeadingLeft/The-Greg-Jones-Show/2008/10/11/NOTHING-BUT-THE-TRUTH-with-Greg-Jones

[chicagoexpat]

McCain: "He's a decent, unamerican traitor who wants to see us lose a war."

Thanks but no thanks

We need more Republicans publicly denouncing him to have any effect. These aren't enough:
http://loomisnews.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/more-republicans-for-obama-john-mccain-is-not-a-principled-man/

[gadjitfreek]

"After all, just hours before McCain spoke, his aide Brian Rogers sent a statement to reporters defending the McCain-Palin audiences as everyday Americans.­"

And that is what scares me...that I share the country with willfully ignorant bigots.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SoeowCVuGI

This really is the heartland of America speaking. It's scary.