"McCain has gone in his ads one step too far, and sort of attributing to Obama things that are, you know, beyond the 100-percent-truth test.... there ought to be an adult who says: 'Do we really need to go that far in this ad?" KARL ROVE 9/08
I grew up in Arizona. I have long liked John McCain and favored him in the 2000 elections. But he has changed this time. I admit to heavily leaning toward Obama over the last few months. But I still watch the debates and I still agree with some aspects of McCain's views. Unfortunately McCain campaigns' renewed smear tactics have really upset me. When Sarah Palin and McCain campaign staff are everywhere saying "Obama associates with terrorists" something is wrong. That isn't a debate over issues, policies or ideas. That is the politics of fear...The kind the appeals to the most weak minded Americans.
No one is accusing Obama of helping Bill Ayers bomb anything are they? No one is accusing Obama of sharing Bill Ayers political views are they? No. Bill Ayers might support some of Obama's views. But someone believing in you is definitely not the same as you believing in them. Guilt by association is a dangerous road to go down. Do we really want to judge people on what their acquaintances do or believe? In fact, all Obama is being accused of is associating with him while both were members of the board of an anti-poverty group. Oh and Ayers has helped fundraise for Obama. But, Ayers now holds the position of distinguished professor of education at the University of Illinois-Chicago and received Chicago's Citizen of the Year a few years back.
Don't we have an economic collapse right now? Are we still overextended in Iraq? Aren't there some real issues about our country we could talk about?
I found this today......
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"Senator John McCain: If your campaign does not stop equating Sen. Barack Obama with terrorism, questioning his patriotism and portraying Mr. Obama as "not one of us," I accuse you of deliberately feeding the most unhinged elements of our society the red meat of hate, and therefore of potentially instigating violence.....
John McCain, you are no fool, and you understand the depths of hatred that surround the issue of race in this country. You also know that, post-9/11, to call someone a friend of a terrorist is a very serious matter. You also know we are a bitterly divided country on many other issues. You know that, sadly, in America, violence is always just a moment away. You know that there are plenty of crazy people out there.....
John McCain and Sarah Palin, you are playing with fire, and you know it. You are unleashing the monster of American hatred and prejudice, to the peril of all of us. You are doing this in wartime. You are doing this as our economy collapses....
Change the atmosphere of your campaign. Talk about the issues at hand. Make your case. But stop stirring up the lunatic fringe of haters, or risk suffering the judgment of history and the loathing of the American people - forever."
From an editorial by Frank Schaeffer. Shaeffer supported McCain in 2000 and McCain wrote an endorsement of one of his books about military service. Full text at :
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.mccain10oct10,0,7557571.story
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2 comments:
It is always disappointing to see cadidates use that type of tactic. To his credit McCain backed away from that a little when he said Obama is a decent man who no one needs to fear as president at a meeting a few days later.
For the most part, I think people would love to hear either candidate convince us they have the wisdom and/or the advisors to guide and lead us in the war and the economy and education immigration and all the other real issues. I am usually a strong Republican. I still admire McCain though I don't like the smear tactics. He has a small proposal of refinincing mortgages of people who would lose their homes . Don't know a lot of detail. Haven't heard a plan from Obama. And his brief experience makes me wonder and worry -who would be the power behind him-- who will be his advisors. Biden will surely be one. I have seen really mixed behavior on the limited times I have seen and heard Biden in action. Sometimes he can reach across the aisle- sometmes he is vehemently partisan. Bush's choices to listen to unwise, advisors has caused a lot of trouble. So I am really uncertain about who to put my trust and vote with.
Maybe Tuesday will help.
I wonder if there are written economic, education, etc policies from the two camps available somewhere that could be read to know the real views of the candidates.
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