John McCain's Big Problem

There's a big, gaping hole in the national dialogue -- and John McCain is standing right at the bottom of it. While the vast majority of Americans spent last week watching the economy crash, McCain, Palin and their surrogates spent their time slinging every piece of mud they could find at Barack Obama.

The "Straight Talk Express" has veered onto a side road and is driving towards such irrelevant destinations as Ayers-town, Wright-ville and Rezko City. At a time when leadership should be on Main Street, Your-town, USA -- McCain is scouring the back-roads in a desperate attempt to firm up his sagging poll numbers and his transparent attempt to guide the national conversation off-topic clearly demonstrates that he is a man who is drowning, clinging to anything he can to keep himself afloat.

It's an old Republican tactic ripped right out Karl Rove's playbook: When you can't win on the issues, create an issue you can win on.

Unfortunately the issue the McCain campaign feels is giving them the most traction is an ugly one, and not worthy of someone who wants to lead the most powerful nation on earth. He has tried to challenge Obama on the issues and failed, and has now resorted to the type of low-brow, gutter politics he publicly stated he would never be a part of.

McCain and Palin through their rhetoric have opened an old, ugly wound. They have ripped off
the scab of intolerance that lurks below the surface of our society. Way to go, John! Way to bring the nation together. Just check out the videos from Strongsville, OH or Bethlehem, PA. They reflect a mob mentality -- Americans whipped up into a frenzy calling Obama a terrorist and a Muslim. I have to go back quite a while to remember a time when I was more embarrassed of my fellow countrymen.

Senator McCain, forget about, "I'd rather lose an election than lose a war." How about, "I'd rather lose an election than start a war."

First McCain wanted us to think we couldn't trust Obama on foreign policy, but when interest in the Iraq war took a back seat to the economy, McCain switched gears and told us we couldn't depend on Obama to solve the countries ailing economy -- when McCain showed us he was clueless on financial matters he played the only card he has left:

Fear.

This is the kind of divisive political maneuvering that has no place in politics, but then again, it's what the Republicans are so very good at.

Now, the McCain campaign says it can't control what its supporters say -- but the deeper issue is why are they saying it? Who planted these thoughts in their collective consciousness? Where did the idea that Obama is an Arab or a Muslim, or a terrorist sympathizer come from? The whole premise of "What do we really know about Obama" is just a veiled invitation for the Republican base to to indulge themselves in intolerance.

The far right has always been fearful of change. After eight years of disastrous leadership they would rather have things remain the same and suffer four more years of failed policies because at least they'd have one of "them" in the White House.

So, what is John McCain's big problem?

At a town hall meeting earlier this week McCain publicly promised a supporter that he would bring up Obama's association with William Ayers at the upcoming debate.

Later in the week the poisonous atmosphere he created came to a boil in Lakeville, MN, when McCain was forced to back-track as a female supporter stated that Obama is an Arab. McCain had to say that Obama was a decent family man.

When a male supporter spoke about his distrust of Obama, McCain was forced to say, "He is a decent person that you do not have to be scared of as President of the United States". This is where the crowd turned on him and actually booed as their candidate tried to remove the red meat from the table.

McCain seems unable to control the monster he's created. His campaigns innuendos and inflammatory remarks now have a life of their own now within the Republican psyche.

So, McCain now finds himself between a rock and a hard place. To bring it up Obama's association with Ayers during the debate will surely annoy independents who want to hear about the issues -- but to go back on a public promise and not mention it will anger his base.

He has painted himself into a corner with no good options left. It's a lose-lose situation for him and he has only himself and his campaign strategists to blame.

I will be watching Wednesday nights debate... and all I can say is he better show up with one hell of a big shovel to if he's going to dig himself out of the hole he's dug for himself...

Comments

[Freesia2]

What I wonder is if he should win (God forbid) how is it he expects to govern? He will have 1/2 the country who aren't just disappointed that Obama lost, but angry and disgusted with how McCain won. Add to that that his vp is someone whom 1/2 the country finds ridiculous at best, dangerous at worst. Throw in the complete disillusionment of the youth voters and new voters and the very real heartache of the black community - because if Obama isn't good enough then no black candidate ever will be - and McCain will reviled before he even takes the oath of office. Is it possible that a President could be more unpopular than Bush?

[RRG64]

Anything the McCain Campaign attempts to pull off over the next three weeks will be in vain.
The American People will recognize it for what it is,drama.
As if Americans needs more drama at this point in world history.

They are becoming more and more conscious that they are now in the minority and people of every color and social status are abandoning their rhetoric in droves.

Not to mention the many,many newspapers.

[martymartymarty]

McCain is not one to consider any of the larger picture. Because he himself would not jump to racial hatred as a result of his questionings of Obama, he fails to be able to predict how those attending his rallies will react. I am not certain that he knew going in that posing such questions about Ayers etc would rile up the loonies and the haters, but his non-reaction since has been both puzzling and inexcusable. For me, it is just another example of McCain only being able to see a situation for how he himself would respond to it, and that is not how a leader is supposed to view things.

[BarackMarley]

John Lewis was right. McCain is echoing George Wallace's campaign not that Mccain is promoting segregationist policies but in that he is generating hate, anger and division.

Read About Why Lewis Was Right on McCain
http://newsone.blackplanet.com/elections/john-lewis-vs-john-mccain/

[JanaK63]

I truly hope and pray that the Republican smear machine doesn't sink to an alltime new "low" by fabricating some sort of "terrorist attack" spin...presumably it will be a "new" tape of Bin Laden threatening our national security (if Obama wins)...that is the only way they could possibly pull out this election and sadly, they know it.