John McCain's campaign, seemingly in shambles and headed over a cliff just a short while ago, seems to have found its mudslinging groove through racist and apocalyptic ads (Britney and Paris, "The One") and rolling out the usual bald-faced lies (claiming Barack Obama didn't visit wounded troops in Germany because he couldn't bring cameras). Team McCain is now ridiculing Obama for correctly pointing out that keeping one's car tires properly inflated and getting regular tune-ups can increase fuel efficiency and thus save oil and money (how outrageous of Obama!), something that Republican governors and NASCAR have also urged. Republican shills have received the memo and are relentlessly repeating the message that Obama's entire energy policy consists of urging us to keep our tires inflated. McCain's campaign is so proud of their new line of attack that they are handing out tire pressure gauges to reporters and donors so that they can all share a self-satisfied chuckle. The Republicans seem to think they've found the equivalent of Jimmy Carter's cardigan and his suggestion to turn our thermostats down to use as a cudgel against Obama down the stretch.
This is the substantive and respectful campaign McCain promised? It's not surprising that Republicans would resort to red herrings and juvenile taunts; it's what they do. The amazing thing, to me, is that these tactics are so successful with a majority of the American electorate. McCain has already closed Obama's lead considerably since he ramped up the hateful and petulant rhetoric after Obama‘s tour of the Middle East and Europe.
Republicans and Independents: please explain why you support John McCain. I want to understand the mentality of those who are swayed by McCain's dishonest ads and smears against Obama. How do you think a McCain presidency would help you and your family, or add to the public good in any way? Though Obama is not the answer to all of our problems and is certainly a flawed candidate, how is McCain a better choice? Why do you feel that, in the midst of a serious Constitutional crisis, you have the luxury of being willfully ignorant and lazy when it comes to thinking critically about the issues we face as a nation?
Follow-up question: if any of you found it funny when delegates at the 2004 Republican Convention wore purple band-aids on their faces to mock John Kerry's Purple Heart medals earned in Vietnam, do you feel any remorse for slandering a decorated war hero, since you and your party constantly claim that you “support the troops“? Or maybe you look back fondly at the band-aid gag, and this year you look forward to snickering knowingly when your party’s delegates proudly brandish anti-Obama tire pressure gauges at your convention this summer?
It's commonplace for Democratic politicians to assert "We Deserve Better" after the 8 years of hell wrought by Bush, Cheney, Addington, Rove and the rest. But do we really deserve better? We elected George W. Bush as President of the United States, not once, but twice. After comparing George W. Bush to Al Gore and John Kerry, with full access to all the facts and information concerning their respective platforms and thus able to compare and contrast their differing visions for the country, we chose George W. Bush both times; we "felt more comfortable" with Bush and would have preferred to have a beer with him over Gore and Kerry because we were told that they exaggerated, flip-flopped, and were too educated, French, and effete for our tastes. McCain, who has changed positions repeatedly on every major position, who wants to wage perpetual war and continue Bush economic policies, and who has serious anger issues, is almost tied with Obama in the polls with only three months left until Election Day.
I would say that we Americans get exactly the leadership that we deserve. If John McCain wins in November, we have no one to blame but ourselves.
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