My initial impression of the debate was that each time McCain described traits required in the President; a cool hand, steadiness, and good judgment, I kept thinking he was referring to Obama. It was almost like this erratic old guy was oddly endorsing his opponent. Obama made that crystal clear when he reminded McCain that "Speaking Softly and carrying a big stick" does not fit with McCain's "Bomb Bomb Iran"or his threats to North Korea. It is consistent, however, with Obama's steady demeanor and the consistent campaign Obama has run.
McCain's call for the government to purchase distressed mortgages and renegotiate mortgages with homeowners smacked of desperation and opportunism. Clearly McCain is desperate to shake things up and a new appreciation for the plight of homeowners does not fit with his long history as a free-market Republican.
Finally, the most memorable moment of the debate also happens to be the saddest moment. McCain referring to Obama as "that one" will probably go down in history as the low point of the 2008 campaign. The comment just rings of a racist disrespect. He effectively called Obama "that boy." It shows an astonishing amount of disrespect for an accomplished sitting Senator who may be on the verge of being the President of the United States. I don't know if John McCain is a racist, but that comment certainly raises the issue in my mind. I don't think McCain would refer to some of his more "established" (White) Senate colleagues in that manner. One thing that is clear is that the comment reflects poorly on McCain. "That" comment, along with the campaign's subtle attacks based on Obama's different-ness recently,(here and here and here) reveal a kind of hatred in McCain that I don't want in a President. I am no swing voter, but I suspect swing voters are not going to like "that one" at all.
I think this Debate will solidify Obama as the steady, respectful leader that this Country needs. As for McCain, he is an erratic, bitter old man.
UPDATE: I don't bring up race lightly. The Republicans may actually want to inject race into this debate and I hate to play into that. McCain's personal faults aren't as important as his atrocious policies, which I have spent a lot of time criticizing. But what is important is the baggage, prejudices, and temperament of our next President. This campaign is showing McCain to be an angry, hostile person.
This is not the first time for McCain. He has referred to Asians in ways that are questionable in the past, he is known to have a temper calling opponents assholes and shitheads. McCain just generally shows a disrespect for others and that should be identified. I don't want a President conducting diplomacy who has an erratic temperament and a disrespectful style. Racist or not the comment is part of a pattern of McCain using Obama's otherness as a source of disrespect.
McCain's call for the government to purchase distressed mortgages and renegotiate mortgages with homeowners smacked of desperation and opportunism. Clearly McCain is desperate to shake things up and a new appreciation for the plight of homeowners does not fit with his long history as a free-market Republican.
Finally, the most memorable moment of the debate also happens to be the saddest moment. McCain referring to Obama as "that one" will probably go down in history as the low point of the 2008 campaign. The comment just rings of a racist disrespect. He effectively called Obama "that boy." It shows an astonishing amount of disrespect for an accomplished sitting Senator who may be on the verge of being the President of the United States. I don't know if John McCain is a racist, but that comment certainly raises the issue in my mind. I don't think McCain would refer to some of his more "established" (White) Senate colleagues in that manner. One thing that is clear is that the comment reflects poorly on McCain. "That" comment, along with the campaign's subtle attacks based on Obama's different-ness recently,(here and here and here) reveal a kind of hatred in McCain that I don't want in a President. I am no swing voter, but I suspect swing voters are not going to like "that one" at all.
I think this Debate will solidify Obama as the steady, respectful leader that this Country needs. As for McCain, he is an erratic, bitter old man.
UPDATE: I don't bring up race lightly. The Republicans may actually want to inject race into this debate and I hate to play into that. McCain's personal faults aren't as important as his atrocious policies, which I have spent a lot of time criticizing. But what is important is the baggage, prejudices, and temperament of our next President. This campaign is showing McCain to be an angry, hostile person.
This is not the first time for McCain. He has referred to Asians in ways that are questionable in the past, he is known to have a temper calling opponents assholes and shitheads. McCain just generally shows a disrespect for others and that should be identified. I don't want a President conducting diplomacy who has an erratic temperament and a disrespectful style. Racist or not the comment is part of a pattern of McCain using Obama's otherness as a source of disrespect.
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5 comments:
Yes, this was great commentary, though a sad commentary on the true character of John McShame.
Excellent article. I couldn't agree with you more. "That one" will be the only thing that we remember about this debate.
The "that one" comment was so baldly disrespectful, the racism it contained didn't occur to me until I turned it around in my head and imagined Obama calling McCain "that one". You're right - McCain may have well have called him "that boy".
As the debate happened, the most misconceived and failed zinger seemed to be McCain's odd interruption of "thank you" right before Obama reminded McCain of his crazed cowboy yelps about annihilating PRNK, bombing Iran and "next up, Bagdad". What a lout.
I don't know why people are outraged. Have we all forgotten that this is the guys that called his dear wife a CUNT?
Hopefully other see it that way as well. If they do, Obama's lead should continue to grow!
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