We’re now witnessing the ugly side of America, and it’s sickening.
The McCain campaign began their efforts to win the presidency by hoping to establish a superior position as best qualified to be Commander in Chief, hoping that would be the most important issue to the voters. Then the oil speculators, free from regulations thanks to Republican-led efforts, caused energy prices to rocket to never before seen levels. Attention of the voters quickly shifted to this issue.
Strategists for the McCain campaign then raised the issue of foreign policy experience, which quickly became problematic for them as Obama gave a speech in Germany that attracted over a quarter of million in attendance. It worsened as the Prime Minister of Iraq actually stated that Obama’s plan in Iraq was the one that seemed most likely to work. John McCain attempted to paint Obama as unqualified as he emphasized the value of employing diplomacy with other nations. One by one, the views expressed by Obama became part of the efforts exerted by the Bush administration, leaving McCain trailing on that issue.
The housing crisis erupted and posed another massive problem for McCain. For decades the lenders were regulated by enacted rules designed as safety precautions for Americans. Led by former Senator Phil Gramm, and supported by John McCain who proudly boasted of his relentless efforts to strip away regulations, the Republicans removed these regulations that led to the chaos infecting the housing market.
Suddenly Wall Street and the financial markets were beginning to collapse. Our economy fell into a recession, and McCain’s own statement about not knowing much about economics became an issue. As conditions worsened, Phil Gramm made the public statement that there wasn’t a problem, it was just a “mental recession” and added we’re all just “a nation of whiners”. That’s McCain’s economic advisor. It’s quite a contract from Barack Obama’s economic advisor, Warren Buffett.
The issue of judgment surfaced as McCain selected Sarah Palin as his running mate. In the beginning her addition energized the Republicans, then we started listening to her speak. Her public interviews were stunning, showcasing the vast cavern of her lack of knowledge and qualifications. He picked a novelty act, and the novelty wore off as she morphed from running mate to running joke.
Then the McCain campaign, in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, made the stunning announcement that his campaign would not be about the issues. This election centers on change… change from the eight years of neglect, failed policies and disasters of the Bush administration. During of the presidential debates John McCain made the statement, “I’m not George W. Bush”. However, it is a publicly documented fact that he voted in total of support of the Bush policies 90% of the time. Voters apparently consider that more than a little similar.
The issues of this election are a minefield for John McCain. He’s on the wrong side of the issues and it’s too late in the campaign to flip-flop away from them. They’re keenly aware that they’re spiraling down in all the national polls, the Electoral College map is showing an almost insurmountable lead for Obama, and so they’ve unveiled their end game strategy. It started with lies claiming Obama has been “pallin’ around with terrorists”, he’s a Muslim, he’s the anti-Christ, he’s a socialist, and he’s a Communist. John McCain even hired the same slime merchants that smeared him with lies during the 2000 election to make hundreds of thousands of robo calls to help spread the lies.
Those smear efforts are being rejected by the voters, who are more concerned with the real issues facing our nation, and out of desperation the McCain campaign is now stoking the embers of racism in a last ditch effort to reverse the momentum.
On political message board sites across the internet, the tone is shameful. The “N” word is commonly used in posts, which quickly gain a “me too” chorus of supporters. Racial slurs and signs are popping up with regularity, playing to the lowest elements of our society. While I firmly believe those that engage in this reprehensible form of dialog and strategy are in a tiny minority, they are giving the opportunity for the closet bigots to emerge and publicly join in.
It’s speaks volumes about the character of John McCain and the Republicans that they are making zero efforts to curb this course. They want to win so badly they’ll readily work to open old wounds, undo decades of efforts to unite our nation, and hope this final strategy might turn the tide for them. For that reason alone, they should be soundly rejected.
In 1963 all the major television networks broadcast a speech given by Martin Luther King in which he said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” This election, in 2008, Americans have an opportunity to make that dream come true, and in doing so, will establish that the content of character is superior to the color of skin. It will be an advancement for America, and a setback for racists and bigots. America will be stronger for embracing all our citizens, not dividing us along ethnicity boundaries.
The McCain campaign began their efforts to win the presidency by hoping to establish a superior position as best qualified to be Commander in Chief, hoping that would be the most important issue to the voters. Then the oil speculators, free from regulations thanks to Republican-led efforts, caused energy prices to rocket to never before seen levels. Attention of the voters quickly shifted to this issue.
Strategists for the McCain campaign then raised the issue of foreign policy experience, which quickly became problematic for them as Obama gave a speech in Germany that attracted over a quarter of million in attendance. It worsened as the Prime Minister of Iraq actually stated that Obama’s plan in Iraq was the one that seemed most likely to work. John McCain attempted to paint Obama as unqualified as he emphasized the value of employing diplomacy with other nations. One by one, the views expressed by Obama became part of the efforts exerted by the Bush administration, leaving McCain trailing on that issue.
The housing crisis erupted and posed another massive problem for McCain. For decades the lenders were regulated by enacted rules designed as safety precautions for Americans. Led by former Senator Phil Gramm, and supported by John McCain who proudly boasted of his relentless efforts to strip away regulations, the Republicans removed these regulations that led to the chaos infecting the housing market.
Suddenly Wall Street and the financial markets were beginning to collapse. Our economy fell into a recession, and McCain’s own statement about not knowing much about economics became an issue. As conditions worsened, Phil Gramm made the public statement that there wasn’t a problem, it was just a “mental recession” and added we’re all just “a nation of whiners”. That’s McCain’s economic advisor. It’s quite a contract from Barack Obama’s economic advisor, Warren Buffett.
The issue of judgment surfaced as McCain selected Sarah Palin as his running mate. In the beginning her addition energized the Republicans, then we started listening to her speak. Her public interviews were stunning, showcasing the vast cavern of her lack of knowledge and qualifications. He picked a novelty act, and the novelty wore off as she morphed from running mate to running joke.
Then the McCain campaign, in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, made the stunning announcement that his campaign would not be about the issues. This election centers on change… change from the eight years of neglect, failed policies and disasters of the Bush administration. During of the presidential debates John McCain made the statement, “I’m not George W. Bush”. However, it is a publicly documented fact that he voted in total of support of the Bush policies 90% of the time. Voters apparently consider that more than a little similar.
The issues of this election are a minefield for John McCain. He’s on the wrong side of the issues and it’s too late in the campaign to flip-flop away from them. They’re keenly aware that they’re spiraling down in all the national polls, the Electoral College map is showing an almost insurmountable lead for Obama, and so they’ve unveiled their end game strategy. It started with lies claiming Obama has been “pallin’ around with terrorists”, he’s a Muslim, he’s the anti-Christ, he’s a socialist, and he’s a Communist. John McCain even hired the same slime merchants that smeared him with lies during the 2000 election to make hundreds of thousands of robo calls to help spread the lies.
Those smear efforts are being rejected by the voters, who are more concerned with the real issues facing our nation, and out of desperation the McCain campaign is now stoking the embers of racism in a last ditch effort to reverse the momentum.
On political message board sites across the internet, the tone is shameful. The “N” word is commonly used in posts, which quickly gain a “me too” chorus of supporters. Racial slurs and signs are popping up with regularity, playing to the lowest elements of our society. While I firmly believe those that engage in this reprehensible form of dialog and strategy are in a tiny minority, they are giving the opportunity for the closet bigots to emerge and publicly join in.
It’s speaks volumes about the character of John McCain and the Republicans that they are making zero efforts to curb this course. They want to win so badly they’ll readily work to open old wounds, undo decades of efforts to unite our nation, and hope this final strategy might turn the tide for them. For that reason alone, they should be soundly rejected.
In 1963 all the major television networks broadcast a speech given by Martin Luther King in which he said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” This election, in 2008, Americans have an opportunity to make that dream come true, and in doing so, will establish that the content of character is superior to the color of skin. It will be an advancement for America, and a setback for racists and bigots. America will be stronger for embracing all our citizens, not dividing us along ethnicity boundaries.
