Obama Called "Traitor" Again At McCain Rally

John McCain's rally on Friday once again inspired furious reactions from his supporters, with one woman screaming "traitor!" as McCain criticized Barack Obama's tax record.

"He promised higher taxes on electricity," McCain charged at the event in La Crosse, Wisconsin. "He voted for the Democratic budget resolution that promised to raise taxes on people making just $42,000 a year." At that point, the woman yelled "traitor," and both McCain and his wife Cindy appeared to look in her direction.

The Arizona Senator continued with his stump speech without referencing her.

Here's video:

As Talking Points Memo's Greg Sargent noted, GOP loathing for Obama seems to also be "spilling into down-ticket races," with one woman yelling "bomb Obama!" during a Thursday debate between Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss and his Democratic challenger.

During a Friday appearance on Fox News, Obama aide Stephanie Cutter said that McCain's crowds have become "mob-like" in their anger and argued that McCain cared "more about the state of his campaign than the economy."

"The thing that is most important right now is that we have got to instill confidence in people in our economy. We have got to calm people down," Cutter said. "We do not need to stoke fears on the campaign trail with these mob-like rallies that we have been seeing. We need to take a step back and provide steady leadership. This is a crisis. This is not what leaders do in crises. Barack Obama invoked FDR, 'the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.' Those are words to live by at this point."

Cutter had been asked to weigh in on McCain's newest proposal for the government to buy home mortgages at face value from the banks and renegotiate them at terms more favorable to the homeowner. Clearly, however, she was hoping to further a meme that the Obama campaign sees as a winner: that McCain is appealing to the worst of people's fears and prejudices in order to advance himself electorally. But in referring to the crowds as "mob-like" Cutter brings the argument further than anyone else from Obama's headquarters.

The Senator himself sounded a similar theme during his speech in Ohio Friday morning.

"It's easy to rile up a crowd by stoking anger and division. But that's not what we need right now in the United States. The times are too serious. The challenges are too great. The American people aren't looking for someone who can divide this country -- they're looking for someone who will lead it. We're in a serious crisis -- now, more than ever, it is time to put country ahead of politics. Now, more than ever, it is time to bring change to Washington so that it works for the people of this country that we love."

McCain hasn't seemed all too eager to tamp down the hate-filled rhetoric emanating from his crowds, beyond merely distancing himself from two introductory speakers that used Obama's middle name as an epithet.

Comments

[Kevinik]

Sometimes on this campaign he reminds of Manchurian Candidate.

[ldrntexas]

The venom being spewed at these McCain/Palin rallies is some of the scariest stuff I've heard - EVER! There are always nuts at political rallies, but what is going on now is coming from more than just a few nuts. That only now is McCain "attempting" to quell this poison may be too little too late. This country has a history of violent hatred and political assassination and to not have realized that bringing up this fiberoptically thin thread of a relationship between Obama and Ayers would have brought on this vitriolic reaction is beyond careless. I believe wholeheartedly that McCain and Palin NOT standing up to these remarks at their stops as nothing short of criminal. Bringing up Obama "palling" around with a "domestic terrorist" could end up costing Obama his life by one of those domestic terrorists. If that happens, the blame lies fully with the McCain campaign. I believe those crazies were out there before the Ayers name was brought up, but the constant harping by Sarah Palin (pit bull in lipstick indeed) and the total failure to stop these, for now, verbal assaults on Obama have probably put guns in the hands of someone who was pushed over the edge by this propaganda. I will continue to pray for our country, Obama & his family every day and ask that, even if you don't pray, at least keep them in your heart at all times!

[ojellod]

A reporter for 'Time' was on "Rachel Maddow" last night, and essentially said the same thing. She's been covering the McCain campaign for well over a year now, and she's noticed recently that instead of a "few of the usual wingnuts" attending his rallys, ALL of the people she's talked to within the last few weeks are the "wingnuts" of the party. These two are attracting every whack job of their respective states; it's despicable that these are the people they are "riling" up with all of their lies and innuendos. Shame on them, and may it all come back to bite them in the butt on November 4th.

[change09]

I am a republican and will vote republican, people wake up, we are headed to what changes?
Obama was put by white people with money to see how far he will get in the election, He will when and be lead by white people with billions of dollars, he said it last night Warren Buffet,
wake up people. this will probable never be posted because this is ran by radicals!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pulladigm]

It amazes me that the people who yell patriotism the loudest know the least about it. Patriotism in the United States of America means to support protect and defend the Constitution. As the great jurist and poet Oliver Wendall Holmes, "Freedom of speech doesn't extend to yelling 'FIRE' in a crowded theater." Nor does it extend to inciting to riot.
John McCain can't, or won't, lead and influence his followers and supporters to behave with civility. How then can he be expected to lead this nation, a Congress or a world full of friends and enemies with so many disparate views and agendas to support his policies?

[missjulz]

GREAT POST. Kudos and agreed on all points. It's very sad and disturbing that McCain chose to appeal to the least common denominator in his base.

He is as an arsonist who meant to burn a little trash in a barrel and now has a brush fire on his hands, destroying an entire forest, threatening the safety of others.

[soldiergirl]

McCain is to blame for the atmosphere at his rallys. Only simple minded folks would reduce something as important as an election for the leader of our country, during these troubled times, to a racial and uncivilized contest. I don't see a lot of patriotism or unity on display at his rallys.

[wordvarc]

Palin-McSame have reignited the RNC/GOP's racial politic bonfire.

Pretty soon they'll be handing out the pointy white hoods.

[dhertzfe]

Let's not forget that a LARGE percent of this problem in Faux News and the many McCain pundits. It's a media that just keeps repeating lies over and over again.

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

THE CLASS OF THE NEW GENERATION AGREES :) HE'S A TRAITOR OF THE CORRUPT AND GREEDY :)

[dhertzfe]

Notice McCain gives the thumbs up after the lady yells traitor? MC-SHAME!!!

[Sixtiesview]

The McCain camp seems to be fueling fear and anxiety as part of thier "campaign agenda" strangely I believe that conservatives are more "fearful" as a group, so the people his campaign is affecting seem to be his own voters. He already has the ultra conservative war mongering, black hating, rifle carring, christian right. It is just plain stupid to allow it to be part of the 'televised" campagin. Talk about association with extremists............is that what McCain's campaign is trying to show for Obama?
Just listen to McCain's supporters, I think this" campaign agenda" has just bitten them in the ass.

[GreenGold74]

It's very sinister what's happening at these rallies. Are they encouraging someone to take it to the next level beyond "just hate talk". Clearly the Secret Service and FBI should be on the alert as well as local police.

[addie24]

His rallys actually scared me. It was like inciting a lynch mob.

[Bobbi112947]

Exactly! I said the same thing and was almost flushed down the toilet...in my office!

[free2u]

Distasteful,dishonorable,disturbing,disheartening,disgusting,disrespectful......this is what the McCain/Palin ticket has become,a duo bent on inciting fear,hatred and possibly violence to win at all cost.This is the straight talk express,country first ticket ? I think not !!! The garbage being spewed by these two is completely out of control.I have no respect for either of them !!!!!

[soldiergirl]

How are we, as a nation, supposed to be able to fully support a McCain presidency, should he win, when he and his running mate are responsible for dividing our country as they have during this campaign? These candidates need to realize that one of them will become president and vice president, and that our country needs to come together to solve our multitude of problems and get our country back on track. The only way to do that is for our country to come together. How can our government preach to other countries about democracy when we have a presidential campaign reduced to lies, inuendos, and race baiting? We should demand better from our candidates and potential leaders. Our potential leaders should accept no less from their supporters, and should not encourage,engage and bask in this behavior. It is not productive or acceptable.

[FuturePrez]

McCain's camp has accepted they're going to loose. Now, the only thing to do is impinge the Obama Presidency. There's no better way than stoking fear and hate.

[studio34]

"lose" NOT "loose"

[janvoght]

i agree, and as a matter of history, john kerry was looking like he was the sure bet as well...which only means we must stay vigilant, as the mc cain camp has the nep-con play book, and this is what they excell in!
OBAMA/BIDEN '08

[ObamaEdwards]

It is now time for ALL of us to call for a stop to this BS. McCain needs to be ordered, by the American people, to get his campaign and his supporters under control or concede the election now. This is just not acceptable behavior in a U.S. presidential election in 2008.

[SayonaraSnot]

This is disgusting ...and dangerous. I hope McCain understands that he is likely unleashing something he will have no power to control - and that he will be held responsible for whatever happens as a result of this.

[marm]

Aphorisms become aphorisms because they express commonly held truths. For this reason, many have found their way into the Bible. McCain's acquiescence in the ugly tenor of recent rally speeches by Palin and his consequent attempt to undo the harm they have done remind me of a gem from Ecclesiastes X:8 -- "He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it." His belated efforts to scramble out of the hole his campaign has dug in an attempt to trap Obama regarding his tenuous association with Bill Ayers is downright amusing, but the rabble rousing that has been turning Republican rallies into something akin to hysterical mobs is not. I am also reminded of a poem by A.E. Housman that goes, "Others, I am not the first, / Have willed more michief than they durst." I suppose another apt analogy would be that it's much easier to set a fire than it is to put it out. You'd think a man as old as McCain would have discovered this sometime in his long life.