ubernoir wrote:

McCain defends rival Obama

Apparently McCain took George Packer's advice, when he wrote yesterday:

Palin is too shallow to understand the weapon she’s playing with; she’s just thrilled to be the birthday girl and the object of so much semi-erotic devotion. But McCain knows better. His manner in debates and at rallies tells me that he’s conflicted about the forces his campaign is unleashing. Win or lose, he’s already damaged his cherished reputation beyond repair. But there’s still time for him to show leadership and do what’s necessary. The responsibility lies with him. In his speeches and at the final debate next week, McCain should say: “Barack Obama is a decent man and a good American. I deplore his policies, I doubt his judgment, I don’t think he has the experience to lead the country. But no one who supports me should question my opponent’s patriotism or his right to stand alongside me in this race. I would rather lose than win with the votes of fear-mongers or bigots.”

noteworthy wrote:
ubernoir wrote:

McCain defends rival Obama

Apparently McCain took George Packer's advice, when he wrote yesterday:

Palin is too shallow to understand the weapon she’s playing with; she’s just thrilled to be the birthday girl and the object of so much semi-erotic devotion. But McCain knows better. His manner in debates and at rallies tells me that he’s conflicted about the forces his campaign is unleashing. Win or lose, he’s already damaged his cherished reputation beyond repair. But there’s still time for him to show leadership and do what’s necessary. The responsibility lies with him. In his speeches and at the final debate next week, McCain should say: “Barack Obama is a decent man and a good American. I deplore his policies, I doubt his judgment, I don’t think he has the experience to lead the country. But no one who supports me should question my opponent’s patriotism or his right to stand alongside me in this race. I would rather lose than win with the votes of fear-mongers or bigots.”

it strikes me that McCain is drawing a line in the sand
there are rules in a democracy and it should not be about power at any price and although it seems likely he will lose the election he is

a, signaling that certain aspects of political discourse are unacceptable

b, I think by saying what he did he has in some way signaled a desire to save the Republican Party from the far right. By saying this he is saying we must steer towards the mainstream and reaffirming basic American values of truth as an essential part of the process and away from the Rovian lies, fearmongering and the Willie Horton memestream of demagogary.

c, after the election there will have to be a healing, win or lose.

I don't support him but he has once again proved himself an American hero. Late in the day and imperfect but he took a stand.

ubernoir wrote:
I don't support him but he has once again proved himself an American hero. Late in the day and imperfect but he took a stand.

Lets just be clear here. He did not do this just to be honorable. There have been a number of concerns raised in numerous quarters over the past few days that the attempts to link Obama with Ayers, and therefore domestic terrorism, might increase the chance that some crazy right winger might try to kill him. Given the breadth of the calls for McCain to tone it down it is almost certain that this was a capitulation to concerns that their campaign has gone too far.

Consider this:

These men didn't kill Martin Luther King, but they contributed to an atmosphere of nationalism, white supremacy and cheap unreflective patriotism that ultimately got a lot of people killed.

Let me be clear--This is the ghost that McCain Campaign is summoning. This is the Ring Of Power that they want to wield. The Muslim charge, the "Hussein" thing is nothing more than today's red-baiting, and it is what it was then--a cover for racists. You may say I'm overreacting, and I really hope you're right. 999,000 out 1 million times we'll go on like normal and proceed to Election Day. But if some shit pops off, the thug and thug-mongers will not be able to throw up their hands and say "How could I have known?" Ignorance will not save them. Their stupidity is a scourge on us all.

Decius wrote:

noteworthy wrote:
ubernoir wrote:
I don't support him but he has once again proved himself an American hero. Late in the day and imperfect but he took a stand.

Lets just be clear here. He did not do this just to be honorable. There have been a number of concerns raised in numerous quarters over the past few days that the attempts to link Obama with Ayers, and therefore domestic terrorism, might increase the chance that some crazy right winger might try to kill him. Given the breadth of the calls for McCain to tone it down it is almost certain that this was a capitulation to concerns that their campaign has gone too far.

Consider this:

These men didn't kill Martin Luther King, but they contributed to an atmosphere of nationalism, white supremacy and cheap unreflective patriotism that ultimately got a lot of people killed.

Let me be clear--This is the ghost that McCain Campaign is summoning. This is the Ring Of Power that they want to wield. The Muslim charge, the "Hussein" thing is nothing more than today's red-baiting, and it is what it was then--a cover for racists. You may say I'm overreacting, and I really hope you're right. 999,000 out 1 million times we'll go on like normal and proceed to Election Day. But if some shit pops off, the thug and thug-mongers will not be able to throw up their hands and say "How could I have known?" Ignorance will not save them. Their stupidity is a scourge on us all.

oh I agree that the whole thing has gone way too far but I think this goes back decades and yes I agree that there is calculation. The race card thread as written about here and the swift boat style are very dangerous to society in general and to Obama particularly if some loony is going to start shooting as you point out and is dangerous to the process. However I get the feeling and it's not something I can prove that McCain dislikes this approach. The approach that did for him in 2000 and I think is what is leading him to stop the Campaign playing the Wright card despite being urged. I do think, it is a gut thing I confess maybe a hope and a belief in the process, in America's capacity to reinvent itself and that is what my instinct tells me McCain wants the Republican Party to reinvent itself. America needs the Republican Party because like it or not it is a two-party system. For too long the "ignorance is strength" wing of the party has been gaining strength and clearly McCain played to this with his VP pick. I think McCain is conflicted and under enormous pressure but knows the difference between right and wrong.