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

[dcinroc]

The most remarkable thing about McCain's "defense" of Obama's character is that needed to be made at all. That alone speaks volumes.

Much like when General George McClellan gave an address to his officers that it was their duty to support the government after previously countenancing openly traitorous talk.

[bygollymissmolly]

Obama is a "decent" guy. Faint praise indeed.

McCain is running scared. He knows that all the hate and vitriol he has created is bouncing back on him and tanking his campaign.

As far as his being "respectful", I'll believe it when I see it and that includes everyone in his campaign not just McCain. Because if he allows all his sycophants on his campaign to continue the hate, then he will be proven a liar.

[QuicksilverKW]

Violent anger of any supporter is not the way to make change. By and large, the supporters show their characters when they show what they feel is important. If I were a politician, and my supporters where inciting violence and yelling "kill him", that would scare me. Would I want supporters that have violence as one of their base flaws? McCain has managed to bring out the worst in people. He can't blame that one on Obama. Do Obama's supporters have to be afraid of McCain's supporters? Does Obam a have to be afraid of McCain's supporters? If something were to happen to Obama and the person said he did it because he felt that McCain said it was ok, could McCain be held responsible for inciting that violence? I'm not saying that Obama's supporters are all angels, but they aren't inciting violence, to my knowledge, on McCain.

[OlderBudWeiser]

Johnny also tried to walk back his bomb bomb bomb Iran too. But he told another lie in doing that. He was "joking" with an old Navy buddy. Wrong! He had a mic in his hand and was in front of a group of people. He is quick to lie, on the spot, during a Presidential debate! This whole historic election from the primaries to the present has been, well, historic. A real eye opener!


Obama/ Biden 08

[Gericault]

McCain looks into the abyss.

Funny how he couldn't see where all this was going to lead.

Now he has to campaign and defend Barack Obama at the same time.

Game .Set .Match.

[BluePride]

This is from a 1965 Voting Rights Act National commercial: Things Are Changing

http://current.com/items/89388751_obama_08_things_are_changing

So many of the issues are identical to today. And yet, in vast ways as a country and people, we've come a long, long way...

[OrbitOfOurOwn]

One of the differences is that not as many people will be sitting on the sidelines passively letting this happen. I, like many of my friends, are jumping in to tamp down discrimination of any sort. The folks who promote it need to be called out and dealt with.

[LeBeau59741]

He's just trying to avoid being charged criminally if one of those yahoos he stirred up actually attempts violence against Sen.Obama, his family or his supporters.

[QuicksilverKW]

I think it is a little too late for that now. That is one cat that can't be put back in the bag. It's angry head has reared.

[emmaspeaks]

He also was walking the line of a law ....its not a peaceful protest, and there are limits to freedom of speech. I am not a lawyer, but a spoke to a lawyer friend and McCain is on the virge of illegal actions.

[Preraphaelite]

He's doing a bit of back pedalling now that he realises that the populace is against that awful Nuremberg Rally rhetoric.
I'm sure it must have passed through his mind what the backlash would be if some dim- wit took up the challenge and decided to do something that would place Obama in a dangerous situation.
McCain isn't stupid and the idea that something could happen due to his irresponsible bear baiting is probably making him change tack,afterall he still wants a political career after all this is over.

[bygollymissmolly]

Every day Obama sets foot outside he is in danger. There are way too many nutjobs in this country. He knew this would be the case and he ran anyway. I have to admire his courage.

[wanttruth]

Great post, bygollymissmolly. I admire Sen. Obama's courage too.

[QuicksilverKW]

I think his "career" is over. He has laid too much on the line to try and win this. Not even the people who considered him friend and respected him would ever trust his judgement now. He should just retire and write a few books trying to explain why he did what he did and hope people care enough to read it. People are fickle. When he loses they'll forget him and go on to the next thing. And they'll probably say they knew all along that he was the wrong person for the job. Just like the many people who won't admit that they voted for Bush or believed his lies about Iraq.

[LemonMeringue]

It is time for the FBI to investigate McCain, Palin, their campaign and these crowds.

[munki]

NSA

[yvonne61]

THE DEBATE COMING UP HE GETTING SCARY NOW HE WANT TO BE NICE IT TO LATE.

[QuicksilverKW]

Two down and one to go. He has nothing to lose because it's already lost. I wonder how he willhandle this last one. He didn't come out puching the 2nd time around like he said he would. Obama just needs to stay steady - unriled - and keep the message strong.

[thefirehorse]

Hey All, Palin just stated that she and John McCain will balance the budget in their first term. Lets ask her and John McCain how they are going to pull this off with the economy in the state that its in? What are they going to cut to achieve it?

[GoBarryGo]

Wow, she said that??? Not when we keep pouring $10 billion a month into Iraq & any new wars they start and the $700 billion and counting going into the financial bailout. She really is crazy as a loon. This is not the Miss Alaska pageant -- you actually have to say things that are feasible in the interview portion of the competition.

[QuicksilverKW]

He sure has a full plate. He will balance the budget. He knows how to win a war. He will catch Bin Ladin etc.,etc., etc. No room for doubt. The Caped McCain and his sidekick will save us!!!!
Now I can go to sleep with no worries for America and our economy, and our families and our sanity. Why did we have to wait so long for our caped crusader is what I want to know!

[ianochaye]

WHO IS OBAMA? Try here to find out http://www.thatone08.com/

[Midnightrain]

This makes for great t.v. This guy can't win, no matter what he says. It's hilarious. Finally, the bad guy loses. Finally - what vindication. God Bless America!

[9liberal]

It ain't over till the fat lady sings....

I hope it is over, but the repubs always find a way to win, so lets wait until Nov 5 (hopefully it is over by then and not another 2000 and 2004)

Lets make sure Obama wins by a landslide!! Even if you are in a state you know is going to Obama...GO VOTE!!!

Obama/Biden 08, 12

[carrie203075240]

Mccain is a despiteful, deceiteful, scared old man. He knows he is not going to win, and so has decided to scape the bottom of the barrel.
How sad, that someone of his former stature has to sink sooooooooo­oooooooooo­oooo low.

[piper1233]

Another McCain sham, not long after this Shameful, successfull attempt to get the press reporting that he has stopped a supporter from erroneously smearing Obama; McCain resumed his character assasination of his Presidential rival. McCain himself initiated the afore mentioned smears and based his entire Campaign on them for the last two weeks. Nothing has Changed, McCains conduct remains to be the single most important reason that he should not be elected President of the United States.

[GoBarryGo]

Precisely -- it is no big "change of direction" -- it was a feeble attempt to try to rein in the out of control hate they've been inciting. It was lame, "Obama is decent" -- wow! And then right back to the same old muckraking as before.