|
||
McCain Derangement Syndrome
Scanning various blogs today, I'm amazed at the seething outrage at the McCain campaign's plethora of dishonest tactics, from Sarah Palin's lie about rejecting the Bridge to Nowhere to the ad charging Obama with promoting sex. Josh Marshall, who normally reads political events pretty coolly, has joined Andrew Sullivan in all-out high-dudgeon mode:
[McCain and Palin have] both embraced a level of dishonesty that disqualifies them for high office. Democrats owe it to the country to make clear who these people are. No apologies or excuses. If Democrats can say at the end of this campaign that they made clear exactly how and why these two are unfit for high office they can be satisfied they served their country.
Rather, I'm amazed not at the outrage itself so much as the fact that it seems to have obliterated all sense of proportion. Call it McCain-Palin Derangement Syndrome. Step back a moment: McCain is running for president. Both his place in history and the future of the country are on the line. In the words of George H.W. Bush, he's going to do "what it takes" to become president. John McCain may have once had a reputation as a straight-talking, unconventional politician, and maybe that McCain could have made a go of it -- we'll never know. But now, for obviously well-thought-out strategic reasons, we've got a different McCain.
Certainly, McCain has made moral compromises here, will doubtless make more, and that will undermine if not destroy his stated quest to heal the divisions in Washington. This augers poorly for a McCain presidency, especially following on eight years of George W. Bush.
But do dishonest-but-effective campaign tactics really render McCain "unfit to lead"? No. Voters obviously don't think it disqualifies him either, at least not in great numbers. Maybe they see the lies, but they also see the aggression. This is a guy who really, really wants to win -- and that counts for a lot in a presidential campaign. If McCain wins, most people will quickly forget the campaign's lies, distortions and negative ads, and his fitness will ultimately be tested by what he does in office.
Meanwhile, the howls over McCain's lost "honor" and the appeals to America's sense of fair play are, frankly, ridiculous. The man fights dirty. If you don't like it, find a way fight back.
Follow John McQuaid on Twitter: www.twitter.com/johnmcquaid
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
"...do dishonest-but-effective campaign tactics really render McCain "unfit to lead"?"
Technically, no. McCain is already unfit to lead - he's putting the country and the planet at risk by pretending he is fit to lead when he isn't.
Most politicians don't make specific pledges to run clean campaigns, or truck their personal honor among their qualifications to be president. When they do, behaving as manipulatively, cheaply, and dishonestly as McCain has is worthy of note. McCain stood before the Republicans at the convention telling war stories about the honorable man he says he once was. The fact that he's running a campaign every bit as sleazy as the one he deplored from Bush in 2000 shouldn't be ignored.
That said, you're right, it's time to roll up the sleeves and start fighting back. Otherwise, he'll ride the Forked Tongue express all the way to the White House.
The Honest Man
There once was a man who could tell no lies
His eyes grew fixed on a noble prize
Off he set on an epic quest
While The Other faced a similar test
Yet Honest Man believed HE was best
He smeared and lied because he knew
deep inside his heart was true
He wanted to lead
For that right he’d beg and plead
“Yesterday isn’t today
But tomorrow could be,
It doesn’t matter what I say
Can’t you people see, it’s me!?”
It was apparent, though, he had changed
Morals, priorities rearranged
We’re not certain The Other will end ahead
What’s certain is this: The Honest Man is dead.
One way to fight back is to point out that it is dishonerable to fight dirty.
You ask 'Do dishonerable-but-effective' campaign tactics render McCain unfit to lead?''
The answer: Of course they do!
Just as robbing a bank makes one unfit to be trusted with another's money.
McCain is asking the country to trust him with the most powerful position on this planet.
We don't need a president who is 'effective' at lies and manipulation, we need a leader who has the vision to lead us and the world in the right direction.
McCain is proving himself to be a dirty little man whose vision is confined to his own ambitions.
Does this make him unfit to lead?
You bet your ass!
"But do dishonest-but-effective campaign tactics really render McCain "unfit to lead"?
They should, win at all cost gutter politics is despicable. It's the scorched earth policy of the immoral majority!
Would a real hero or man of good character engage in those tactics? NO!
How can a party consider themselves to be conservative when they are that radical, fananatical and go to such horrible extremes?
Correct. He will do anything. No rules. No morals. Once elected, all past behavior will be attributed to hard campaigning (thereby justified).
"Stand ye out and be different, and don't let the others trick you back into where you were. It's not easy. It takes fortitude." Lester Levenson
Let us not be tricked back. We were inspired to raise this campaign because we saw that here was a chance to have our voices heard, to have our work recognized, to know that we could be a part of a solution, of a building up.
"I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours." Barack Obama
Whatever part, big or small, there is value in participating. Let's participate and stay focused on the outcome. Yes, we can and should call out the lies. But even more we need to call out the truth.
Maybe it is just as simple as voters deciding who really, really wants to win. If that's the case, the Dems have to start fighting hard, punching back on all the nasty inuendo, but also comparing themselves to the Repugs on the issues. We have a small taste of what BO can do, but he needs to start showing some righteous anger at their lies and their refusal to debate issues.
What does this say for people who thinks this style of campaigning is in the best interest of the country. At a time when are facing serious problems foreign and domestic, people want a president who will openly lie in order to get what he wants. Didn't we just see this movie? There are some seriously idiotic morons in this country, if they think republicans stand for fiscal conservatism, pro-life,and gun rights. Two of these issues will never and I mean NEVER change; not to mention there is nothing fiscal about conservatives. "When you have no truths to tell, then you tell lies." DDE.... How do Christians square this mindset with the scripture they claim they love so much? The only lie will be that these so-called Christians will be welcome by the Almighty. Jesus rebuked fanaticism,ask Barrabas, a religious fundamentalist. It is no wonder the world is lost, with so-called Christians like this.
If only McSame weren't running on his fabricated honor, you might have a point.
But he is, so your point is, well, what's your word? Oh yeah, ridiculous.
Americans understand that politics is an ugly business. They're not fools.
But there's always a line that shouldn't be crossed, in every ugly business.
McSame crossed it a long time ago. And if it's honor he's selling, he simply has none left.
Oh.. So this guy feels that McCain is running for president and can lie all he wants to get his way! This is his legacy he says! Well that is really some legacy to be proud of! Look at the the president we have now who played dirty politics to get into office. Look at the legacy he has.. .The worst president ever! Yeah that description would fit McCain too.
McCain is not just fighting dirty against Obama. He's fighting dirty against the American people. He's creating petty, faux distractions and outrageous distortions to confuse Americans into making a choice that is not in their best interest.
If you don't level with the people about what your administration is going to look like and how those policies are going to affect the lives of middle class Americans, you're playing dirty with us. We have enough enemies from without, we don't need any more from within our own government.
I do not agree with you.
There is so much material available to Obama that would give voters the real facts about McCain and all of his flip flopping and the out right lies regarding his stances on many important issues which negatively impact the lives of the middle-class, the poor, and which also provide a clear, unadulterated look into his voting record on women's issues. McCain is a political terrorist when it comes to these issues and his full support of the present administration's policies. He has been the standard bearer for GW Bush, and has bragged about it stating, "I have fully supported the president and will make his tax reductions (for the rich) permanent." Before one can discern whether or not the 'cup is half full or half empty, one must first have a cup which is clear enough to see through. Frankly, we have been drinking hand to mouth without any cup at all.
The consequences of the past 8 years have slowly begun to 'trickle down' with the failing economy, soaring energy prices, our poor standing in the world and a subtle return to pre-civil-rights apartheid America. Is this what Americans want the world to know about them? Many of us believe that if we continue down this path with the election of McCain/Palin, the trickle down will turn into a raging river, China will have to bail us out again. Only this time it will be via colonization.
At one point John McCain said that he'd rather win a war and lose an election than lose a war. He obviously doesn't feel the same way about losing his integrity.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
