Bless John McCain...for now

by Spiffarino, Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 03:22:32 AM EST

John McCain surprised me today. I feel I should give him his due.

For days, his and Sarah Palin's fear-mongering attacks on Barack Obama have led their rally attendees to shout racial epithets and even threats of violence. Today, McCain dialed down the rhetoric to the point of admonishing audience members who made ridiculous accusations and assertions. But when he did the right thing by correcting them, his supporters rewarded him with scorn.

Fearing the raw and at times angry emotions of his supporters may damage his campaign, John McCain on Friday urged them to tone down their increasingly personal denunciations of Barack Obama, including one woman who said she had heard that the Democrat  was "an Arab."

Each time he tried to cool the crowd, he was rewarded with a round of boos.

...

"Come on, John!" one audience member yelled out as the Republicans crowd expressed their dismay at their nominee. Others yelled "liar," and "terrorist," referring to Barack Obama.

John McCain today attempted to reverse the dangerous course his campaign recently embarked upon. This is commendable, and I applaud him for it. Perhaps he just didn't realize how insane the GOP "base" actually is, and decided they shouldn't be inflamed. Perhaps he found them (understandably) frightening. Whatever the reason, he made the right call.

It was a belated but welcome act of courage on McCain's part for which I am grateful. Without it, violence was a distinct possibility. For his effort, his audience did all but engage in open revolt.

Considering the negative reaction from the raw meat-loving GOP core the question becomes: Does John McCain have the courage to continue doing the right thing even if it means losing the presidency?

If the answer is "yes" then John McCain may yet save his political legacy. If no, at best McCain will be relegated to the dustbin of history; at worst, he will be responsible for creating a political chasm that could dwarf the one for which George W. Bush is responsible.

This is McCain's moment. Let's pray he really does put "Country First."

Update [2008-10-12 1:55:22 by Spiffarino]: "Now" has arrived. Sarah Palin came out and used the term "radical" several times to describe Barack Obama in her most recent stump speeches. Radical isn't a dog whistle to the nut base; it is more fear-mongering and stoking the true radicals...the lock-step, low-information and highly volatile haters at the core of the GOP.

I was wrong: John McCain is neither courageous nor respectable. He is opportunistic scum who will use any tactic to get ahead. I will pray daily for his political career to come to an unceremonious end on November 5th and will delight in his spiral into inconsequentiality.


Tags: McCain, violence, incitement, Palin, hate (all tags)

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Re: Bless John McCain...for now (2.00 / 2)

Yes, thank you, John McCain. Thank you for choosing to not incite a riot today. Thank you for being so mavericky by not agreeing hat Obama needs to be killed.

Do we really need to se the bar so low?


by RandyMI on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 03:57:34 AM EST

Re: Bless John McCain...for now (none / 0)

I have lived long enough to see the political 'rehabilitation', to one extent or another, of creeps like Nixon and Kissinger. John McCain may survive politically, but his success in becoming the candidate for the Republican Party this time was based on lies, he is not and has never been who he claimed. His words and deeds since he locked up the nomination have allowed us to plumb the depths of his depravity.

It's no one's fault but his own. I do not forgive him just because he stepped away from the brink a bit yesterday. I have no doubt it was a purely tactical move.


"But not me personally were those cheers for"
by QTG on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 07:12:53 AM EST

Re: Bless John McCain...for now (none / 0)

It was nothing but a tactical move.You're absolutely right.


by Lodgemannered on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 08:46:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bless John McCain...for now (2.00 / 1)

Screw John McCain- he unleashed these stupid people, it's a little late now to try and rein them in (judging from the crowd's reaction, they feed on the hate and want more).


"Who are you for? That is the wrong question. It should be who is for you?" HRC
by skohayes on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 07:22:21 AM EST

Re: Bless John McCain...for now (2.00 / 1)

Agreed...  Everyone of those who shouted out Kill Obama needs to be arrested, as should McCain and Palin for inciting a riot.  Furthermore, if, GOD FORBID, something happens to Obama, they should be held accountable.  Let me be clear, if Obama should get seriously ILL or even struck by a bolt of lightning, then the two of them should be help responsible and thrown into Prison for conspiracy to commit murder.

(Ok sorry got carried away... watched the Godfather last night).


http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!
by yitbos96bb on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 10:27:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bless John McCain...for now (2.00 / 2)

"A belated but welcome act of courage"? C,mon. If you were getting bullied in a school playground,and one day the bully decided to halt the bullying for a bit,would you go up to him or her and say "Oh thank you so much for not bullying me today?
 McCain had no choice but to say something. He was and is getting it the neck from everyhwere for inciting hate and I guarantee  that If not much was being made of it by the MSM,he would carry on. In the meantime  Madam Goebbels is out on the stump still whipping the base into a frenzy.Is this good cop bad cop now?
Total  bullshit. I bet he even winked at the crowd as he was telling them to "be respectuful".
by Lodgemannered on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 08:30:37 AM EST

Why, he dished on Arabs? (2.00 / 2)

Look at the video on TPM. A lady says that Obama is an Arab, McCain says no ma'm, he is a fundamentally decent family man.

What does he have against Arabs.


by ann0nymous on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 08:31:45 AM EST

Re: Why, he dished on Arabs? (2.00 / 1)

He's a republican... They think all Middle Easterners are terrorists.    

Isn't Arab a racial slur?


http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!
by yitbos96bb on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 10:28:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why, he dished on Arabs? (2.00 / 1)

To the moron who told him, "I think he's an...arab," the term was obviously meant as a slur. McSame drew her back and it was the right thing to do.

As a person who was born in Saudi Arabia, I was glad that he "corrected" her. However, your point is well taken. "Arab" should never be a term of derision, yet for the GOP red meat crowd it is precisely that. Arab is becoming the Reich's new N-word.


by Spiffarino on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 10:52:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bless John McCain...for now (2.00 / 1)

I'll wait until Palin speaks next to decide whether to give him credit.  I sincerely believe that this was a tactical move to separate him from the base, and stop his slide with Independents.  The McCain camp underestimated just how rabid the beast had really become.


by hello world on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 09:59:53 AM EST

Well, Palin DID speak and... (2.00 / 1)

She used the word "radical" when describing Barack Obama's views several times. Radical is no idle word. It's designed to stir up fear.

I stand corrected on thinking McSame had found a moral center. Fuck him and Caribou Barbie. Game on.


by Spiffarino on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 12:54:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bless John McCain...for now (2.00 / 1)

He deserves no credit for this.  He and his ridiculous choice of a running mate unleashed this crap in the first place.

Then, to quote from the article you quoted from:

"Fearing the raw and at times angry emotions of his supporters may damage his campaign..."

MAY DAMAGE HIS CAMPAIGN.  The only reason McCain is now trying to reign in the beast he himself unleashed is because his internal pollsters are telling him that the chosen track turns off undecided Independents, yet undecided Democrats and many Republicans.  In other words, it appears that it HURTS his chances, does not help.  ALL polling shows us the same.   Therefore, it is mere political expediency to not allow his followers to portray Obama as an Ayrab, a terrorist, etc.    Perhaps McCain was even told by the RNC to cut it out, seeing what damaging effects this promises to have for downticket races across the country.

Unless he publically apologizes for telling us that our choice for president is not American, 'not one of us,' he deserves everything he is about to get.

There is NO decency with this man.  Don't be fooled by a political move.


by devilrays on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 10:34:16 AM EST

Re: Bless John McCain...for now (2.00 / 1)

I don't doubt McSame's greatest concern is primarily for his political future. However, I stand by my assertion that it was courageous to stand up to that crowd.

The modern Republican base is the child of the old Southern Democratic base. The same people who stood in angry picket lines as black children entered newly-integrated schools with signs reading, "Ni--er go home" and "Segregation Now!" today call Barack Obama a terrorist and an "A-rab."

A few days ago somebody in the crowd yelled out "terrorist!" and McCain appeared genuinely taken aback. The look on his face revealed that he did not fathom just how ugly the GOP rabble have become. They were definitely not the country club set to which he and Cindy belong.

Of course, this brings up a whole other issue: That John McCain is so out of touch he doesn't even understand his own GOP base.


by Spiffarino on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 11:19:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bless John McCain...for now (2.00 / 1)

"A few days ago somebody in the crowd yelled out "terrorist!" and McCain appeared genuinely taken aback. The look on his face revealed that he did not fathom just how ugly the GOP rabble have become."

That "look " on his face  was more than likely  wind.


by Lodgemannered on Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 11:50:43 AM EST
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Re: Bless John McCain...for now (none / 0)

Mojo for bringin' the funny.


by Spiffarino on Sun Oct 12, 2008 at 12:55:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]


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