This will be quick, but I didn't see a diary on this yet, and this editorial is so powerful, I think it can kill McCain's campaign.
The Politics of Attack
It is a sorry fact of American political life that campaigns get ugly, often in their final weeks. But Senator John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin have been running one of the most appalling campaigns we can remember.
They have gone far beyond the usual fare of quotes taken out of context and distortions of an opponent’s record — into the dark territory of race-baiting and xenophobia. Senator Barack Obama has taken some cheap shots at Mr. McCain, but there is no comparison.
Because of my commitment to cynicism about the media, I was astounded to read an AP analysis calling out Palin's race-baiting. I am even more amazed to see McCain/Palin be called out so forcefully by the New York Times. Yes, they will call it "the librul media"...but the truth was spoken too plainly in this editorial, and it will ring true with everyone who reads it.
And I am thrilled to see this. The hatred Palin has been stirring up at rallies is no joke:
Her demagoguery has elicited some frightening, intolerable, responses. A recent Washington Post report said at a rally in Florida this week a man yelled "Kill him!" as Ms. Palin delivered that line and others shouted epithets at an African-American member of a TV crew.
I hope I'm not pushing fair-use here, but here's where they lower the boom:
In a way, we should not be surprised that Mr. McCain has stooped so low, since the debate showed once again that he has little else to talk about.