Perhaps it was his abandonment by old friend and former Michigan Gov. Bill Milliken, or the outrage of the old-line conservative media, or finally understanding that the path Steve Schmidt and the other Rovians in his campaign had set him on was becoming exceedingly dangerous — with angry cries of “Kill him!” emanating from the crowd, how long until an unstable McCainiac tries to make that a reality? – but John McCain, to his credit, finally informed his supporters, much to their dismay, that Barack Obama was a “decent, family man, a citizen,” not an “Arab,” and “a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States,” and that he was simply a political opponent in an American election and not the embodiment of boogeyman-under-the-bed terrorist evil.
Contrary to the flood of negative ads run by the McCain camp over the past two weeks, and the incessant pit bull howling of his Shiller from Wasilla running mate condemning Obama as an ally of ‘domestic terrorists,’ a glimmer of the old John McCain from 2000 showed itself and courageously pulled back from the building Nuremberg Rally mob-hatred of the rapt-by-Rapture Christians and revanchist regressives that now comprise what remains of the Republican base. It seems even McCain was appalled by the flow of vile vituperation and brown-shirt frenzy increasing evident at his campaign stops.
Possibly McCain merely realized he was going to lose this election and wanted to be remembered not as a peevish, fuming crank who had auctioned off his soul and self-respect to get elected, but as a class act who recovered his dignity and integrity before it was too late.
For once in this campaign, John McCain actually put ‘country first’ and he should be applauded for it – ironically, if that McCain had been in the race all along, he might have had a better chance of winning.
And yet, only five minutes ago, another McCain ad ran, painting Obama as a scary terrorist-lover.
Deeds not words.
Comment by Peregrin — October 12, 2008 @ 12:06 am
McCain only had a ‘senior moment’ lapse in spreading hate and lies.
Comment by kerry — October 12, 2008 @ 3:36 pm
Kerry, remember a couple of months ago when McCain’s campaign said the he didn’t necessarily speak for them? Maybe McCain really isn’t in charge of his own campaign — they just lead the Old Fart around by the nose and tell him what to say — no wonder he said “My fellow prisoners” the other day.
Holtz-Eakin: McCain May Not Speak for the McCain Campaign on the Economy
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/25/holtz-eakin-mccain-may-not-speak-for-the-mccain-campaign-on-the-economy/
McCain Campaign: ‘John McCain Doesn’t Speak for Us’
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/93377/mccain_campaign:_'john_mccain_doesn't_speak_for_us'/
Can you believe it? First time I’ve ever heard of a campaign rebelling against its own candidate. Now we know how he ended up with Palin.
Comment by RS Janes — October 12, 2008 @ 5:19 pm
Yes RS I remember. I saw that and caught the ‘Prisoners” slip. Or was it? Also remember the old coot saying he was going to run a CLEAN CAMPAIGN! I get the impression that Moldy Mac and Sleazy Sara are only distractions while the Bush crime co. finish up their last minute heists of taxpayers bucks while trying to figure out a way to stay in power. Should the two of them by some miracle of rigged voting machines and bought & paid for “Supremes” end up in the Oval Office they will only be puppets for the shadow figures running the show.
“It’s hard to pull your foot out of your mouth… …when your head is up your ass”. Feddler Von Schtickle
Comment by kerry — October 12, 2008 @ 9:06 pm