OK, I know this is yet another entry about the US Presidential Election, but I shall try to make it my last until after November 4th.
Recently, the McCain/Palin ticket has taken to some pretty shameless attacks on the character of Barack Obama. After the "he wants to teach sex ed to kindergarten kids" thing failed (mainly because it was flat out wrong) they have delved into the past associations pile.
They trot out Bill Ayers at every chance they get and use this as an example that Obama has been (in Palin's words) "palling around with terrorists". The problems with this are relatively simple. When Ayers was targeting the United States with bombs, Obama was 8 years old. Secondly, since this time Ayers has become a college professor who has ties to numerous charitable foundations and educative programs. Charity? Sounds dangerous to me!
It was through one of these charities that Obama and Ayers met. As residents of the same area of Chicago with the same interest in education it was inevitable. Obama and Ayers served on the board of one of these charities. What could they possibly have been doing? Plotting against the U.S no doubt. Forget that there were other people on that board including several Democrats and Republicans. They clearly used the charity as a front for their terrorist talk. Sounds about right, doesn't it? No? Of course it doesn't.
The big issue here is not Ayers, nor is it Keating (despite what Obama's response attack was). When the campaign puts these issues out into the open in the manner they have been, it provokes people to think in more extreme ways. More and more, McCain supporters have been yelling things like "Traitor!", "Terrorist!" and perhaps most disturbingly "Kill him!" at rallies. While the McCain campaign can claim that they are not responsible for their supporters it simply does not hold water. The tone of their campaign has allowed this overflow of hate and fear.
McCain has at one rally corrected a supporter who claimed Obama was an Arab, and assured another that there was nothing to fear from an Obama presidency, but was booed for the effort. While it was somewhat of a relief to see a flicker of decency left in McCain it didn't do much to change the minds of his supporters. A man who claims to be 'Country First' should be more forceful in dealing with these people. Where is the John McCain of 2000? If he could see the 2008 version I'm sure he'd be appalled. The campaign, especially Sarah Palin, have continued these attacks which could lead down a dangerous road.
They accuse Obama of associating with terrorists. By doing this they are provoking people's fear. They're making them scared. Terrified if you like. Why are they doing this? Because the polls are increasingly leaning towards Obama and they need a way of changing the tone of the campaign. Does this sound like a familiar concept? Exploiting people's fear in order to achieve their own goals... oh yes. That's terrorism. The irony is not lost on me.
His campaign has stirred up enough fear and hatred that the concerns some people had about an African-American running for president at the start of the race have resurfaced. I want to have faith in the American public that such an event will never occur. Unfortunately, the increasing anger heard by McCain supporters indicates that it could. This thought worries me.
John McCain is a true American hero. I mean it. The dedication he showed his fellow captive Americans in that P.O.W camp is astounding: Upon being offered an early release he refused; saying that until all American captives in that prison were released he would not be either. That is the making of a hero. So it disappoints me that a man who used to take on his own party when their ideas clashed with what he believed to be right has ended up with this campaign. After the 2000 primary against Bush, in which McCain suffered many attacks and slanders, I am sad to see that McCain's campaign has become the perpetrator.
Senator McCain: please be the maverick that you were. Emphatically put these people right. You have policy disagreements with Obama? Good! Talk about them. Debate the issues. Fight the honorable campaign you promised. I am not saying that you should not attack Obama at all, just attack his positions and proposed policies. You are much better than this campaign has made you.
I would still root for Obama even he did this, but that would not be a reflection of him. I agree with a lot (but not all) of Obama's policies, and that is why I want to see him in the White House. However, it would be uplifting for the whole country if in these last few weeks the campaign was fought with honor and dignity. That would be change that everyone could believe in.
Recently, the McCain/Palin ticket has taken to some pretty shameless attacks on the character of Barack Obama. After the "he wants to teach sex ed to kindergarten kids" thing failed (mainly because it was flat out wrong) they have delved into the past associations pile.
They trot out Bill Ayers at every chance they get and use this as an example that Obama has been (in Palin's words) "palling around with terrorists". The problems with this are relatively simple. When Ayers was targeting the United States with bombs, Obama was 8 years old. Secondly, since this time Ayers has become a college professor who has ties to numerous charitable foundations and educative programs. Charity? Sounds dangerous to me!
It was through one of these charities that Obama and Ayers met. As residents of the same area of Chicago with the same interest in education it was inevitable. Obama and Ayers served on the board of one of these charities. What could they possibly have been doing? Plotting against the U.S no doubt. Forget that there were other people on that board including several Democrats and Republicans. They clearly used the charity as a front for their terrorist talk. Sounds about right, doesn't it? No? Of course it doesn't.
The big issue here is not Ayers, nor is it Keating (despite what Obama's response attack was). When the campaign puts these issues out into the open in the manner they have been, it provokes people to think in more extreme ways. More and more, McCain supporters have been yelling things like "Traitor!", "Terrorist!" and perhaps most disturbingly "Kill him!" at rallies. While the McCain campaign can claim that they are not responsible for their supporters it simply does not hold water. The tone of their campaign has allowed this overflow of hate and fear.
McCain has at one rally corrected a supporter who claimed Obama was an Arab, and assured another that there was nothing to fear from an Obama presidency, but was booed for the effort. While it was somewhat of a relief to see a flicker of decency left in McCain it didn't do much to change the minds of his supporters. A man who claims to be 'Country First' should be more forceful in dealing with these people. Where is the John McCain of 2000? If he could see the 2008 version I'm sure he'd be appalled. The campaign, especially Sarah Palin, have continued these attacks which could lead down a dangerous road.
They accuse Obama of associating with terrorists. By doing this they are provoking people's fear. They're making them scared. Terrified if you like. Why are they doing this? Because the polls are increasingly leaning towards Obama and they need a way of changing the tone of the campaign. Does this sound like a familiar concept? Exploiting people's fear in order to achieve their own goals... oh yes. That's terrorism. The irony is not lost on me.
His campaign has stirred up enough fear and hatred that the concerns some people had about an African-American running for president at the start of the race have resurfaced. I want to have faith in the American public that such an event will never occur. Unfortunately, the increasing anger heard by McCain supporters indicates that it could. This thought worries me.
John McCain is a true American hero. I mean it. The dedication he showed his fellow captive Americans in that P.O.W camp is astounding: Upon being offered an early release he refused; saying that until all American captives in that prison were released he would not be either. That is the making of a hero. So it disappoints me that a man who used to take on his own party when their ideas clashed with what he believed to be right has ended up with this campaign. After the 2000 primary against Bush, in which McCain suffered many attacks and slanders, I am sad to see that McCain's campaign has become the perpetrator.
Senator McCain: please be the maverick that you were. Emphatically put these people right. You have policy disagreements with Obama? Good! Talk about them. Debate the issues. Fight the honorable campaign you promised. I am not saying that you should not attack Obama at all, just attack his positions and proposed policies. You are much better than this campaign has made you.
I would still root for Obama even he did this, but that would not be a reflection of him. I agree with a lot (but not all) of Obama's policies, and that is why I want to see him in the White House. However, it would be uplifting for the whole country if in these last few weeks the campaign was fought with honor and dignity. That would be change that everyone could believe in.
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