Then Schieffer asked McCain to comment on Sarah Palin's accusation that Obama pals around with terrorists. McCain responded by defending her audience.
OBAMA: But when people suggest that I pal around with terrorists, then we're not talking about issues. What we're talking about...Senator McCain appears to be incapable of following the questions, and despite his reputation as a man who prizes honor above all else, his dissembling and self-interested rationalizations are especially jarring and deeply disappointing.
MCCAIN: Well, let me just say I would...
SCHIEFFER: (inaudible)
MCCAIN: Let me just say categorically I'm proud of the people that come to our rallies. Whenever you get a large rally of 10,000, 15,000, 20,000 people, you're going to have some fringe peoples. You know that. And I've -- and we've always said that that's not appropriate.
His campaign is shameful. When he defends the people who shout "Kill him" at his rallies, he insults the intelligence and character of the American people, and extends the Rove/Bush legacy of polarizing politics and cynicism. We have had enough of this, Mr McCain. We will be as glad to see you leave the stage on November 4 as we expect to be on January 20, when Bush and Rove slink off to whatever stinkhole will have them.
The crudescence of Republican politics has reached its nadir. One can only hope that the few remaining decent men and women of the GOP will take their party back over the next four years. McCain had a chance to start them in the right direction, but he chose instead to go with the flow. What a pity he did not live up to his now laughably discredited nickname.
5 comments:
Absolutely right. Even as I was watching, I was thinking it would make a nice 527 spot. First a clip of OBama taking McCain gently to task for some of the filth his supporters have been spewing. Then a clip of McCain saying how proud he is. Ouch.
That and "health" (complete with air quotes) should pretty much wrap this baby up, barring any unforeseen political, security, financial, sexual--or actual-- asteroids.
Yeah - the abortion debate was revealing. A lot of folks don't realize how hardcore McCain is on the abortion issue. Oddly, though he may have scared off some women last night, he may also have pissed off his base by failing to pledge to appoint pro-life judges. I think the debate last night must have cost him some votes - we'll see what the polls say over the next week.
Sorry about vanishing last night- my computer kind of conked out.
Everyone at my gathering was for Obama. That said, we were stunned at the poll results giving Obama a crushing lead. I expected it to be considerably closer. Did any of you guys feel that way, or did you think Barack had it the whole way?
(Note: We all felt Barack did better, but thought McCain played well enough to turn people. That's what I meant by "close")
Brian
My sense was that McCain would hurt himself last night - that he would have to be very aggressive on topics of dubious relevance to the real concerns of voters (except those already firmly in one camp or the other). Therefore, I was not surprised he got whalloped. I don't think he was surprised either - he seemed to know his mudpies were more likely to land on himself than on his opponent.
Neil
Brian, I'm with you. I thought both men had a decent night, and that McCain was even or possibly ahead on points. But McCain's body language was totally off the hook. Even so, I was stunned at the margins in the flash polling.
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