Time to Ask McCain: "Have You No Sense of Decency Left?"

The McCain campaign crossed the line today from negative character attacks to the kind of character assassination that plays to the basest impulses and incites the most dangerous reaction. We've seen the prelude this week in the McCain crowds and in Sarah Palin's well-rehearsed, carefully telepromptered and increasingly ugly diatribes. But the intent became undeniable with the new McCain ad that falsely charges that "Obama worked with terrorist William Ayers when it was convenient"--which all but alleges that the candidate was there planting bombs.

McCain had to back off and almost apologize at an event in Minnesota when a questioner in his crowd alleged that Obama was "an Arab." McCain meekly had to explain, over the evident unrest of his supporters, that Obama wasn't dangerous.

But who was responsible for leaving people to think that he was dangerous in the first place? The McCain campaign grab-bag of tarnished tactics has trafficked in soft hate and hard fears about "the other." It has been said that everything in America ultimately comes back to race. But with Republican campaigns in trouble, starting with Barry Goldwater and continuing with Nixon's "southern strategy" in 1968, it really always does come back to race.

The McCain forces have taken this to a new low; there is no way to deny the deliberate, conscious attempt to portray Obama as unAmerican; not "one of us" as Pat Buchanan said tonight on "Hardball"; someone "who doesn't see America as we do," in the venomous patois of Palin.

In all decency, it is at least worth mentioning, even as we note that Obama is not an Arab or a Moslem, that there is something profoundly unAmerican about denigrating all Arabs or all Moslems as suspect or evil. Or, for that matter, something profoundly unAmerican about playing to the old prejudices that many assumed would prevent any African-American from ever becoming President in their lifetimes. The appeal to intolerance is amplified by commentators like Buchanan and William Kristol, who urge the McCain campaign to pound away at Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. They have a list of names they want McCain to flourish and a wave of innuendos they want McCain to raise. Joe McCarthy would recognize this; it's the smear technique that he virtually patented. To borrow a phrase from that period, a phrase that shattered his reign of intimidation, maybe we ought to ask the McCain forces, the candidate and his supporting commentariat, "Have you no sense of decency left at all?"

I don't think McCain does.

And in effect he is sending a message to voters that he has no chance at all of winning if the campaign is waged on great issues like the economy. So as things get more serious in a deeply troubled America, the McCain campaign gets more frivolous. The campaign manager, Rick Davis, says the financial crash is for CNBC to discuss every day, not for the candidates. Instead, we hear about Ayers, ACORN (conveniently, a "community organization" that helps poor, and in many cases, black families) --and, of course, Obama's middle name. How much of his vaunted courage would it take for McCain to publicly rebuke, on the spot, any supporter who rolls out the name "Hussein" as an epithet that connects Obama to you-know-who?

The reality is that in a country facing two wars and a mounting economic crisis, these desparate and despicable appeals aren't working. Obama's lead is mounting, nationally and in the battleground states. But there is a threat here too that is all too real. When I heard someone in a Palin crowd yell out "traitor" as the candidate lashed out at the Democratic nominee, I thought of the full-page ad that appeared in a Dallas newspaper on the morning of Nov. 22, 1963. The headline--"Wanted for Treason"-- was sprawled across a poster-sized photo of President John F. Kennedy.

You don't put country first by running this kind of campaign.

Watch appearance on Hardball.

Comments

[mraugustwestie]

None of Bob Shrum's clients has won (Kerry, Dukakis, etc.) Does he actually work for the Obama campaign? If he does, it could be a curse. He should have never said that Obama was the winner. Nothing is for sure until voters actually go to the polls.

[Nonamnesiac]

I don't get why this is such a surprise. Everyone saw McCain prancing around the Shura Market in Iraq with a flak jacket, 100 heavily armed US troops and 4 or 5 helicopters overhead claiming he had gone there with no flak jacket or support -- that it was just like a US market. He also said Petraeus regularly travels on his own outside of the Green Zone which was also a lie. He also says the surge worked, when the only non-Iraqi political leader able to travel in Baghdad with the roar of approving crowds is Ahmadinejad. His lies about Iraq have lead to the deaths and maimings of thousands of US troops.

The media named the McCain Lying Express the "straight talk express". McCain is a fundamental liar whose only saving grace is that he's too stupid to know the truth even if he hears it, as his class rank of 894 out of 899 (below the bottom 1% of his Class) at Annapolis demonstrated.

McCain is a two-bit liar and his whole persona has been a lie, despite the media creating the so-called "straight talk express."

Shrum's got it right. McCain has no honor or decency.

[Clayton139]

Bob, I hope you call John McCain out on his Negative campaigning !
Also, inciting, and the preaching of HATE towards Barack Obama ?

[cylindar]

MCain and Palin are just following Hillary's lead and the way she treated Obama. What a shame that people can be so damn evil.

[LAThinker]

They are desparate and the only thing left for this bancrupt campaign is to appeal to lowest of emotions Anger and Hate

http://www.ucubd.com/Index.aspx?id=805&cid=3162

[Milliways]

FINALLY someone has said it out loud, and clearly! I've been asking that question since Senator McCain began his disgraceful campaigning. Governor Palin is playing the part of Roy Cohn to McCain's McCarthy. THANK YOU, Mr. Shrum!

[peggyleg]

You've been reading WAY too many liberal left wing articles. Now you are seeing McCarthism....wow, talk about going back in times, I thought your campaign was forward thinking and for "change"....the only problem I have w/Obama's type of change is I'm afraid it's not change for the good, it's change for the sake of change. And you guys are eating this up. Think for yourself!!!! I'm not a huge fan of McCain, I am voting for the lesser of 2 evils, because believe me, McCain is no conservative. Gov. Palin is, so that's a plus for his campaign, and I think that's why libs hate her so much.

[bluguy8]

he has no decency and he's acting un-American too

[HallStyle]

If John McCain wins I am afraid that we will be heading towards WORLD WAR III. He is HELL bent on war with Iran, and another Cold War with Russia. He is so WRONG for America. We can't make the mistake of electing him as our next President!
http://www.hallstyle.blogspot.com

[afraid]

I cannot understand why these people are not arrested for inciting to riot. McCain's people are trying to link Senator Obama to people-it sounds like 6 degrees of separation for God's sake. The real person in this election that does not think like the rest of us is Sarah Palan. Thank you oregon ivy and dude for hope.

[peggyleg]

Because there was no riot, it was a political stop that drew about 16,000 people.

[Einstein44]

Wouldn't it had been amazing, if McCain had stated to his base,"I can't stand this anymore and let's move to a positive campaign for the people"....but it's too late.They've just planted the seeds of hate and it is spreading like a wildfire...So sad and extremely disturbing !

[ElKabong61]

Why do journalists insist on referring to Obama as African-American or black? The term African-American is most often used to describe someone born and raised in the United States and the ancestor of someone who came to this country from somewhere in Africa (usually as a slave.) It's a very different heritage and experience than what Mr. Obama and his family had.
We know exactly what country Obama's father is from. So he's a mulatto Kenyan-American. This best describes him both racially and culturally. For a group that has spent way too much time focusing on Obama's race, the media can't even seem to get that right!

[buglet]

Good point, and one which I've been bothered by all along. Not that it should make any difference, anyway. His wife might be African-American, though...wouldn't that make him African-American by association? (snicker)

[conductrix]

How about just "American"?

[csavage]

Activities of domestic terror groups always rise during Democratic administrations-I'm speaking about the separatist parties from all over. Tim McVeigh represented one such domestic terror groups and I hope everyone here remembers him. Where is the "moral authority" of a political conviction when, when a liberal brings that fact up, the liberal is met with such comments as "Good for them" or "Somebody needs to".
The fact remains that, prior to 9/11, most terrorism in this country was by the hand of right-wing hate groups.

[jackbutler5555]

The challenge John McCain has is to find a way to appeal to the undecideds. You know you have to be -- how shall i put it -- special to have trouble making your mind up for this Presidential election. So, McCain has to use um special techniques to get them on his side. What works with people without the wherewithal to decide is to go nasty. It's worked in the past. It might work again. What would you do if you were McCain -- conduct an in-depth discussion of the issues? Really? Or, maybe you -- if you were McCain -- would keep the discussion on a positive plane. Of course, you don't have the fire in your belly to run for President. So, you wouldn't understand why McCain is doing what he's doing.

[Thecuddlyleft]

why would going nasty work with the undecided. Explain. I don't get it. I can understand being on the attack, but dividing the country is doing more damage then losing an election.

[peggyleg]

This country has always been divided along party lines, don't believe the spin of the media that this is more than Dem vs. Rep.....the msm is pushing the agenda that McCain's campaign is negative, and the Obamaites have jumped on that bandwagon.

The only people who are undecided are people that have been living under a rock. They (and no defense here), very rarely vote, and really have very little impact on any election. That the "undecideds" will determine this election is another myth of the msm.

Just remember, 53% of Americans consider themselves conservative, and it will really surprise me if anyone that considers themself conservative in any way shape or form casts their vote for the most LIBERAL candidate that has ever run for president.

[capalzo]

Jackbutler,

What is your point, McCain is honorable because he is running for president?? Is your point he is so desperate to become the president, we should all accept his behavior?? Please Help, I Don't Understand Your Point.

[cdub1991]

The notion that strong desire is an acceptable rationalization of unacceptable behavior is a logical and moral nonstarter.

[peggyleg]

What jackbutler5555 is stating is that Senator McCain is going nasty to win because it has workedd before. I happen to think that McCain is being honest, bringing issues to the front, the only people that keep talking negative are the MSM with the constant drumbeat that McCain is going negative. If telling the truth about Obama's associations with certain people, so be it.

[dsegal2009]

Excellent article, Mr. Schrum. I especially like your use of the anti-McCarthy phrase.
Anybody know where I can get some "McCarthy-Palin '08" bumper stickers and buttons?
If Palin really wants to put her country first, she should resign from the Republican ticket, and go back to Alaska to "pal around" with her right wing extremist-­-secession­ist buddies. She could set a good example for them by single-handedly declaring her own independence from the Union, and wandering off into the bush to hunt moose and wolves, armed only with a hockey stick. Would I like to see that? You betcha!

[SFwoman]

"empty suit" huh? please provide your evidence, because all I see is a very full suit with a heck a of a lot more integrity and intelligence than most folks. 11 years state senator, constitutional law teacher, community leader, 4 years US senator, doctorate of law from Harvard, degree in foreign policy from Columbia, heart of gold, innovative ideas, surrounded by brilliant advisors from Biden to Gore, history of heading Ethics Reform laws, didn't take money from lobbyests and special interests through his pres campaign, etc. etc.

I've been studying everything about Obama for a year, and researched all flaming statements against his real background, policies, and work, and none of those accusations have held water.

As a matter of fact, I would love to hear your legitimate reason NOT to vote for Obama. I mean something real, a fact that can be proven. If you are against abortion or gay civil unions, then you have a point. If you make over $250K and keeping your taxes low is your highest personal principle, then you have a valid reason not to vote for him. If you want the US to stay in Iraq as long as possible, that's a reason not to vote for him. Otherwise, what have you got?

[SFwoman]

whoops, sorry, my last comment was supposed to be response to Peggyleg, not dsegal.

[peggyleg]

I am more convinced than ever, after visiting this site for the last 5 days, that Senator Barrack Hussein Obama is an empty suit.

Please, continue to talk amongst yourselves, tell each other that you are right, but just be prepared to be VERY disappointed when Senator McCain is elected president.

Just know that it's gonna be alright, that the world won't come to a screachng halt because of this, that it will actually be a very good day for America!!

McCain/Palin '08

[Icantbelieveher]

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/790/

You won't accept the truth -- you'll still find a way to spin it so you can continue with your anger!

[peggyleg]

And, to tell you the truth, I'm not angry.

[Icantbelieveher]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/us/politics/13martin.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Martin%20Hannity&st=cse&oref=slogin



HAHAHAHAHA­HAHAHAHAHA­!!! Hannity's expert on Obama was blocked from the Illinois bar after a psychiatric finding of “moderately severe character defect manifested by well-documented ideation with a paranoid flavor and a grandiose character.”


HAHAHAHAHA­HAHAHAH!!! Way to go Hannity -- you really boosted your position! NOT!