Campaign Rhetoric

Below is an exchange, verbatim, I had with a friend back on Oct. 6. This was the post I intended to publish before the McCain Camp's low-minded tactics against Obama. Hence the previous post.

Our emails began shortly after I shared a news item describing Joe McCain's (John McCain's brother) comments regarding Arlington and Alexandria, VA as "communist country."

********

DAN: c'mon dude that's "gotcha" journalism, i'm not going to read too much into that. besides, liberal views on government intervention form the basis of communism; if the word didn't carry a negative connotation in this part of the world, nobody would object to the joke.

HASAN: I don't dispute your claim but it's a sour note for the mccain campaign nonetheless. the "macaca" moment of this campaign. and it happened in a state leaning blue and where a majority of the voters live in nova. that's not exactly the best comment to make when trying to solidify and attract new voters.

DAN: Man, I disagree. It is a minor note, at best, because it was by his brother, not by the man himself. Of all the gaffes his campaign is guilty of, this one least qualifies for the attention we're giving it. particularly because the news of the weekend has been palin accusing obama of "palling" around with terrorists or some BS like that. they're one second away from bringing the fantastic rev. wright back into this. you hear palin say, "their vision of america is different from our vision" in reference to obama's views? the racial implications should be thrown right back at her. there's a gaffe worth talking about.

HASAN: you know as well as I do that professional, personal and certainly political associations mean a lot when running for office. These issues come up in every campaign. I agree with your comments about "gotcha journalism" but this is the nature of a 24/7 news cycle. Each candidate and their supporters are aware of this. It doesn't matter anymore if gotcha journalism is right or wrong. It's now a question of effect and to what extent a discussion it merits. He made a reckless comment. Some laughed and many more were offended. The media reports it and people like us share it. In the end, this will carry more weight than it probably should. But it shouldn't be ignored either.

On that note, Obama has given the thumbs up for his surrogates to proceed with attacks against McCain for his role in the Keating Five scandal. It was something he vouched not to bring up and he, himself, probably won't mention it by name but don't be surprised if people in the Obama camp start talking about it.

Personally, I wish he would leave it alone. Before you know it the first wife of McCain is going to be mentioned then someone's going to talk about the kids and so on. It's the ugly face of politics. And it's been abused and reused by many campaigns in the past. Palin/McCain increased the frequency of these tactics in the last month. It's their last ditch effort to redefine Obama.

The Keating Five and now Joe McCain will balance out these attacks.

DAN: I know these personal issues inevitably come up in every campaign; I just don't think it wise for the Obama camp to jump onto something Joe McCain was joking about. It's one thing to disparage associates with radical views (like Wright) and another thing entirely to disparage someone who has served this country and makes an off-the-cuff remark in jest. Wright's history is what makes him an easy target and McCain's military history is what makes him, to some extent, off limits. Yes, others have been jumped on for less, but the energy of the Obama camp would be better used jumping on something either McCain or Palin has said.

McCain has said in the past that his involvement in the Keating Five scandal was a point of great embarrassment and shame to him. However, it is a great point for the Obama camp to press to show how out of touch McCain is and always has been. And I've also found it surprising that, while professing to represent a party that is supposedly more in touch with family values, McCain has gotten away with leaving his first wife while she needed care to marry a hotter, richer woman. If Edwards had to face the music for his actions, why would McCain be exempt?

********

It must be noted, our exchange occurred before the second presidential debate in Nashville, TN. That afternoon, as we typed these emails, Palin ranted about Obama's relationships with Ayers and Rev. Wright. And sure enough, the Obama campaign ignored the comments made by Joe McCain. Thus, more evidence supporting Obama's real interest and focus in discussing the core issues facing America.