In an interview that could only be described as a coming attractions preview for the general election campaign, Republican presidential candidate John McCain today sought to raise questions about Barack Obama’s patriotism due to his association with a former member of the Weather Underground on ABC’s This Week program.
When asked by host George Stephanopoulos if he thought that Obama shared his patriotism, McCain brought up William Ayers, “I’m sure he’s very patriotic. But his relationship with Mr. Ayers is open to question. He became friends with him and spent time with him while the guy was unrepentant over his activities as a member of a terrorist organization, the Weathermen. Does he condemn them? Would he condemn someone who says they’re unrepentant and wished that they had bombed more?” McCain asked.
So the Republican strategy for the fall is to spread the rumor that Barack Obama associates with terrorists. This is a similar variation of the 2004 general election theme that a vote for John Kerry was a vote for the terrorists.
It should be no surprise that McCain would go this route, because the men pulling the levers behind his campaign are Bush neo-cons. In a time of war, and a dire economy, I don’t think that the same tired patriotism argument is going to fly this time. The McCain people are fools for even trying this on Obama.
Hillary Clinton had her best moments of the campaign when she stayed positive. Her support nosedived when she went negative. The advantage of Obama’s “new politics” theme is that it allows him to stay above the fray.
The difficulty for Obama has been walking the line between new politics and counterattacking. The GOP will probably bring up Ayers and the flag lapel pin distractions because they don’t have anything else to run on. McCain can run on more war, a bad economy, and tax cuts. None of these alone or together will be enough to overcome the political tsunami that is Barack Obama in 2008.
Watch the McCain interview here:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4689908
I was personally present in the cloakroom of the senate when small childrn were brought in for Mcain to suck thier blood. He is in the employ of communist China. Yes, its true, In exchange for helping him win the presidency McCain has promised them free access to all of our defense secrets. They brainwashed him when he was a POW, he is the real life Manchurian Candidate, a sleeper terrorist, and he really isnt even a patriot.
“Call me Al” Swiftbooters for truth
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Wow, and people think I’M kooky?
While I don’t think that McCain is the type to suck the blood of children, I know that this guy is not in any position to challenge anyone’s patriotism.
The patriotism fall back seems to be an underlying casualty of the Cold War and War on Terror is that one’s character or ability is overshadowed by some sort of ignorant profiling of who is more patriotic. Look at the candidates, look at what they stand for, and for God’s sake (and our’s), look into their past. McCain was a “songbird” for the Vietnamese during a time of war, yes…but patriotism isn’t the issue in the situation but the fact that the man was humiliated beyond belief and has shown a hateful grudge ever since. In a word the man is unstable. You want a trust issue, take a look at his slippery role in the Keating Five.
Hillary has enough skeletons in the closet to know that she’s a fake, phony neo-con with plenty of motive to do exactly opposite of what she’s states. Her husband was a slick liar, war monger, murderer, and attempted to destroy the Bill of Rights just as much as Bush Sr and Bush Jr. There is no reason to believe Hillary would be any different. Hillary = Bush for those who aren’t keeping up with what I’m saying.
Obama is a scary one. If he is genuine, then he can take this country to great places (minus his horrible health care plan and overall Liberal winning agenda). He has the quality of a moderator, a negotiator, and a smooth talker, all very presidential qualities. However his backers, being mostly globalists, crooks, and people who brag about tearing the middle east apart and turning it into a theological wasteland, and having the man’s ear is of plenty of concern. I’ll say it again, if Obama plans to use his “powers” for good it would be a dream for this country….if he uses it for “evil” then we are in a huge amount of trouble.
Long and drawn out, yes…in short patriotism is an old accusation thrown out to smear another candidate in the “I’m better than you” kindergarten way that should have been left on the playground. It is ignorant and dangerous, and takes real issues away from the table.
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