The Assassination of John McCain by the Coward John McCain

John McCain is dead.

Cut down by a coward.

For years, the Senator from Arizona was a man of conviction and passion. A man who stood shoulder to shoulder with liberals and independents on key issues. A man who fought to clean up the influence of corporate money in politics, and denounced Bush's irresponsible, deficit-ballooning tax cuts in a time of war. He was the picture of service and sacrifice. He was, despite the current emptiness of the word, a maverick.

I admired him when he had the sense of humor to host Saturday Night Live. When he called out Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson for the fraudulent scum they were. When he partnered with liberals like Russ Feingold to take on the influence of corporate money in politics. I admired him when he stood up to Bush's shameful race-baiting tactics in 2000. I admired him, as we all did, for his story.

But that man is gone. Poisoned by a dark reflection of himself - a Shadow McCain - born of greed, ambition, and weakness.

McCain the straight-talker slain by McCain the smear-monger. McCain the hero murdered by McCain the panderer. McCain the maverick bludgeoned by McCain the sneering, sniveling race baiter. Whored out to the very corruption he sought to drive from his party. Intoxicated by the very tactics so shamefully used against him in 2000.

How can a man with even a shred of dignity claim "Country First," when he ignores our economic crisis in favor of smearing his opponent? How can a man with even a shred of dignity ask "who is Barack Obama?" when he won't let his running mate hold a single press conference? How can the man who owns nine homes and thirteen cars call the man who was raised on food stamps an "elitist?"

All politicians are guilty of distorting facts. But this McCain - this Shadow McCain - is looking the American people in the eye and telling them outright lies. That alone should disqualify him for the highest office in the land. As should his selection of the least qualified running mate in our nation's history. As should his attempt to stir up racial tension to rescue his sagging poll numbers.

A strong leader doesn't capitulate when his staff gives terrible advice. A strong leader doesn't abandon decades of core principles for short-term gains. A strong leader doesn't inflame a crisis with knee-jerk reactions and needlessly dramatic stunts. A strong leader doesn't retreat to the refuge of character attacks when he has nothing else to say.

The John McCain you see before you is weak. Mentally, physically, and morally.

A shadow of his former self.

A liar.

A coward.

He's done more than destroy his brand - he's hastened the end of neoconservatism through his socialist proposals, arrogant world view, and his laughable pick of a laughable running mate. In that sense, I suppose, we owe him our thanks.

Joe Biden recently said that McCain would probably regret his attacks on Obama "for the rest of his life." I respectfully disagree.

My friends, the John McCain who would've regretted those attacks is dead.

Seth Grahame-Smith is the founder of HomelandApology.org

Comments

[hopefulinpa]

WOW - Very well said, with class.

[mmonarch]

You're joking, right? The New York Times is the official fan club mouth organ for Obama. Have you read anything they post about McCain and his family and Palin and her family? Obama and Axelrod are the new arbiters of decency? Three political races in Illinois, won by Obama because Obama's tactics forced the other candidates to withdraw? There is none so blind as he who will not see. All of you.

[Ligers]

Everyone seems to be forgetting Obama's decency and sense of fair play when he said "Peoples' families are off limits and children especially are off limits". He reminded his own supporters of this, when news first came out of Sarah Palin's daughter's pregnancy. Why is it so difficult for so many people to recognise basic goodness in others.

[LeftRight]

Because at the same time that he was insisting on courtesy that he wouldn't have given (had the situation been reversed.....) BOTH he and Palin were VERY busy bringing their own children and families INTO the campaign, which means that they are PART of the situation!!

[Territc]

What situation. You can't hide the children from the campaign. You can just limit and control thier time on the campaign. Obama has never taken swipe at any of the other families so you need to stop potraying the untruth. McCain got himself into this situation alone. He is the one who has spend the last two week spreading lies, smears and untruths about Obama and his campaign. McCain has spend all his time telling us Obama cannot do what he says he will do but has not told us what he will do. McCain is the one who has put all his energy and focus on saying Obama is a terrorist, he brought up Ayers and he tried to link ACORN to Obama - He did. McCain did. Why are you defending reality - we have all watched and listened to his speeches.

[Manx]

Real mavericks don't have to point out that they're mavericks like McCain has been doing.

After the sliming of Obama and the injection of racism and charges of terrorism in McCain's campaign, the McCain brand is damaged goods. The racist stigma will stay with him for the rest of his life just as it is associated with the likes of George Wallace and Lester Maddox.

[walk0nwalls]

Oh man, that movie

Great post man.

[robbie44]

McCain is in the throes of disintegration,his mind is obviously on its way out and i don't say this disrespect­fully.Afte­r all hes been through i give him props,but lets face it hes not
fit to be the next president of the united states .We need a wise man with a sharp mind more than ever.that's why I'm voting for Obama!

[CheekyMommy]

Great post!

[zanzig]

Seth, I disagree with you and agree with the number of posters who have recognised that the maverick image was always a myth. I have asked before now for someone to point me to examples of his honor, nobility and decency (no reply so far) because from all these thousands of kms away we can't see it.

[rnadna]

And I agree! The maverick myth is just that, a myth. What you see today in McCain, is McCain as he's been since he's been in ofiice. A typical, greedy, bankrupt, ambitious, sleezy politician. A pox on ALL their heads!

[Territc]

The problem is people made him a Maverick because he was once a POW. However, being a POW does not mean you are a maverick. It just means you went to war, you served your country, you got caught and you served your time as a POW. That doesn't qualify you to be a maverick, nor does it qualify you to become the next President of the United States. For that you need some integrity, decency, values, understanding of the issues affecting the american people, the economy, health issues, welfare, foreign policy, national policy and more. The only thing McCain had going for him was his knowledge of National Policy, but that is not rocket science. Obama is now just as knowledgeable as McCain if not better. McCain lacks diplomacy and he thinks that just because he is american he can runshod over the rest of the world.

[watchTVgetSTUPID]

McCain the Maverick voted to give China most favered Nation trading status. Now the money making factories have been moved to China and if they do not lend us the $700 billion bailout money, then our dollar will crash and we will end up like Iceland.

[childofdalight]

damn.......thats the truth if i've ever heard it.

[Offendedbymccain]

Well said!!

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

Who is the most important person in the world to John McCain? JOHN MCCAIN.

He told us in his book. I really, really, really, really want to be President.

He'd better win. If he doesn't, his political stroke in government, on a scale of 1 to 100, is going to be 2. If the President doesn't decide to make Senator McCain obsolete, the First Lady will.

[jade7243]

Unfortunately, Seth has eulogized the myth of John McCain, not the real man. The real man is no more "maverick" than James Garner played on TV. The real man always operated with a political calculus to choose what suited John McCain best. From changing wives to changing positions, John always chose what was sure to deliver the best bang for the buck. It is no mistake that he was part of the Keating Five. no mistake that be "took on" ethics reform after having been caught red-handed. McCain services only his ambition and his desires. While other applauded the "return of the Maverick" when he tepidly said Obama is a decent man, I said no, that was merely a political ploy to temporarily quiet the baying hounds. Two days later, here is McCain claiming victimhood for begin called out on his on lynch-mob inciting rallies.

The man is not maverick. No how, no way, no maverick.

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

Your take on McCain is much closer than Seth's. McCain's always been an opportunist. For years, he blew his own horn, for the midst of smoke and mirrors.

[AmericasMostGangsta]

....and now, Lindsey Graham blows his horn for him.

[KeepMeLearning]

For a good read on the real McCain, check this article out: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain

[marthlois]

Thank you Seth - someone needed to call this coward of a man on his stuff. I would not have called him a coward before today (ok, maybe I would have) but today, another angry man shouted KILL HIM at a Palin Rally. I KNOW in my heart what Obama would do if the shoe were on the other foot. He would call a press conference - or make a speech warning that such contempt has the ability to throw our country back where none of us would want to go. And yet, this cowardly Senator does no such thing.
I used to like the man - tonight, after seeing yet another blood curdling KILL HIM, I would spit on him, seriously.

[RRG64]

John McCain represents a small portion of this great country that is consumed by their own fears.
The Ghosts in the Machine coming back to haunt the people that forgot they put them there.

[NamelessGenXer]

Make that: despicable coward.