John McCain: Four More Years of 'You Just Don't Understand"?

For eight years now, the overarching strategy of Bush and Cheney has been to condescendingly bludgeon the public, the world and even members of their own administration with the notion that "you're either with us or you're against us." There has been no room for questioning or discussion, no transparency and no room for dissenting opinion. Any administration official (however highly credentialed) who voiced an alternative point of view was either marginalized or kicked out and became the focus of a campaign to discredit them (Powell? O'Neil? McClellan?). And where exactly has that gotten us?

We are more divided and polarized as a country than we have ever been, the gap between the "haves and the have-nots" is greater than any time in recent memory and we are mired in two wars without a clear exit plan. Our economy is in shambles, we have tens of millions without health insurance, our deficit is astronomical, our environment is in jeopardy and our respect in the world is pathetic. And while China, India, Korea and other so-called "developing" countries are teaching nanotechnology to their second graders, we have gone back to debating evolution in high schools and are overly focused on "pressing" issues like abortion. So last night's debate should have been a real eye opener about which candidate will lead us into the future with a clear change in philosophy and direction. The one who actually has a vision for our country.

During last night's first debate, Senator McCain constantly chided Senator Obama, saying he "just [didn't] understand", was at times bordering on rude and tried to paint Obama as naïve and inexperienced. McCain never once looked Obama in the eye (or that of the viewing audience for that matter) and appeared bothered by the sheer audacity of this newcomer in thinking he had the standing to question any of McCain's actions or opinions. Sound familiar? By contrast, Obama was gracious, took the opportunity to show where the two had common ground by saying he agreed with McCain on several points and demonstrated that he would be a president who wouldn't attack just for the sake of attacking, but would instead work to bring people together to solve problems. In this case, style is substance. Something we desperately need after eight years of being lied to, divided and conquered, pillaged, and gridlocked. Real change where we wipe the slate clean and "throw the bums out".

One definition of "insanity" (widely credited to Einstein) is "doing the same thing over and over again hoping for a different result." If after witnessing the debate last night, the people of this country do not elect Barack Obama as our next president after eight horrific years of Bush/Cheney, then I fear that we, as a nation, will have gone truly and perhaps irreversibly insane.

That said, I am hopeful that we have finally reached the breaking point, where enough people in this country are awakening from their slumber, discovering that they have been misled by people who do not really care about their best interests, merely their own. And last night they saw, in a side-by-side comparison, that John McCain is just more of the same thing from the same party and people who created all of the damage in the first place. Arrogance coupled with disdain for those who would question them or suggest a different path; their "my way or the highway" mentality.

For those who do not yet fully grasp how necessary this change is, imagine the day early next year when Barack Obama walks into the United Nations and says to the world, as promised: "America's back." In the next 40 days, we need to do all we can to make that day a reality because the stakes for our and our children's future, and that of our nation are just much too high for the alternative.

Read more reactions to the first presidential debate from HuffPost bloggers, including Nora Ephron, Bob Shrum, Madeleine Albright, Paul Reiser, Arianna Huffington, Sean Penn, Sheryl Crow, and more.

Comments

[JayInDallas]

I truly believe that McCain has completely underestimated the capacity and ability of the American public when it comes to detecting a lie. After 8 years of an administration that has made lying a hallmark, I think we can spot one coming from pretty far off. Only the die-hard Republicans can convince themselves that McCain is somehow a different breed of Republican. That somehow he can restore the GOP brand that has been so badly tarnished by this administration. The truth is, he can't. He has shown himself to be a day late and a dollar short. There are no pillars left for him to run on. POW was overused and is now meaningless. Reform has been undermined by his own campaign staff and is absolutely hollow. The Bush legacy and his association to it strips away his "cut spending" stance. My Republican friends are having a difficult time giving me, let alone actually believing in, valid reasons why John McCain is better than Barack Obama.

The writing is on the wall. The barbarians are at the gate. The GOP better gather their things because they're on the way out. They have a lot of explaining to do.

[dishnit]

After reading a seventeen page article McCain wrote back in '73, it is kind of hard to believe anyone could read that article and not vote for him.
He is a true American hero!

[Tenley]

Great piece. And the first to use the same words that came to my mind: arrogance and disdain. Not just for Obama, but for the wide swath of the electorate that nominated him their presidential candidate. Obama didn't need to use the words HOPE or CHANGE for them to come to mind when witnessing the stylistic and substantive contrast between the two candidates on the stage; one radiated those ideals while the other wallowed in depressing divisiveness and the continuation of every reckless bad course and decision the U.S. has made this past decade.

[philopatris]

Hey--great "Candorville" today. Check it out.
There's a line Obama should use next time. McCain saying
"Anybody that gets earmarks, I'll make them famous!
Sarah Palin got $23million in earmarks for the 6,700 people of Wasilla.
I made her famous!
Job done!"

[NicoleW]

Fred, excellent article and I agree with you. I have been offended by McCain's actions in this debate and throughout his campaign. It is obvious he does not have a handle on the economy, his actions have been erratic and reactionary without thought and obviously not understanding while at the same time maintaining an attitude of he knows everything. Additionally, his campaign has been the dirtiest I have ever witnessed. His choice of V.P. further tells a story of man who is only interested in winning at all costs, not putting country first. He appears to see things only as black or white, and therefore couldn't possibility understand the art negotiation or diplomacy. This type of view is old thinking. It scares the hell of me that this type of personality would have our lives and future in his hands. God help us all if he wins.

[19iowa62]

What I took away from the debate:

It was apparent to me that McCain didn"t learn any lesions from the Vietnam War. He still believes that all wars can be won. He doesn"t even have a scale to measure the cost of "winning" vs. the cost of "losing". The vast majority of the American people believe that the cost in human life and the burden to our economy is too high. McCain is ONE MAN telling the MAJORITY that they are wrong and he is right. History has shown that there is no one more dangerous than one who KNOWS they are right.

Our status in the world has diminished in most part by the arrogance of our government. McCain"s arrogance doesn"t just rival that of our current administration, it surpasses it.

[suemag]

Perhaps the reason McCain didn't look Obama in the eye was not because he was lying (although he was) but because he thinks he's "superior" to Obama. Not to use the r word, but I think you get my drift.
He came just short of flicking his hand at Obama and saying "go away, boy, you bother me".

[GhostOfSchlesinger]

Well put, sir.

And the fact that you got one of the wackos to post below is sure sign that you've hit a vein.

Keep up the good work!

[dahpunkster]

amen if we always do what we have always done we'll always get what we 've always got.

[DeadHorse]

I am even more impressed with Sen Obama post debate than before. And I was pretty darned impressed with him already. What I saw is what so many others saw: a confident, intelligent, POLITE, and refreshing person.
Don, I read the piece you refer to in your post, and there is nothing in it that bears up to the light of day. I would recommend reading it again with www.factcheck.org open in another window. And then I would ask you to look deep into your heart and ask yourself if you are voting FOR McCain or AGAINST Obama. And then ask yourself why. I mean REALLY ask yourself.

[RepugsOut08]

John McCain couldn't make eye contact with Obama or the audience, because there is a tiny little part of his character still remaining that has trouble lying to someones face.
Barack Obama, walking into the United Nations announcing the long dark veil of the Bush/Cheney years has been lifted, could usher in a new era of cooperation between nations that might get us back to where we were just after 9/11. A time when most of the world stood with us. Bush squandered that unprecedented opportunity. Let's hope that Obama can bring it back

[peterg76]

"Sound familiar?" I distinctively recall hearing 'you just don't understand' from children at the moment they realized they lost the argument.

[Bushwillresign]

"our respect in the world is pathetic" I am so sick and tired of hearing this comment. I am not saying this is not true, however our respect in America is pathetic. Anyone that voted for Bu$h is pathetic. The republicans in Congress are pathetic for still backing Bu$h.

[Glenn1441]

Gosh, you really should take this post to as many high profile sites and news agencies as possible. No use preaching to the chorus (though I appreciate the encouraging words :>)

[karebarron]

Clearly, when a man cannot look another man in the eyes (McCain), it is because he is lying. Everybody knows THAT basic rule of non-verbal language. Mr. McCain could not look at Senator Obama last night, even though time and again, Obama invited him to, because Mr. McCain was lying. He lied not just to Barack Obama, but to the American people, and quite possibley, to himself. Sadly for McCain, the 57 million people watching last night, got that non-verbal loud and clear. thank you for your honest body language.