I just sent an email to Senator McCain. Not to his campaign. Not to his handlers. To him.
I thanked him. Don't shoot me just yet. Let me explain.
I thanked him for rebuking the rabid supporters in his rallies who are accusing Obama of being dangerous, of being a terrorist, of being an Arab.
I thanked him for re-injecting a level of decency and reason into a conversation that had become increasingly full of hate-mongering and rabble-rousing.
I thanked him for showing the honor and integrity with which I used to view him, back in the days when he was running against George W. Bush and convinced me he was much the better choice. It is not easy to tell an angry mob of supporters who wants to lynch your opponent that he is decent man who does not deserve their hatred and fear.
For a moment there, he really was the Maverick of old. He may have saved Obama's life, too.
I also told him I could not support his running mate under any circumstances. I did not tell him that I really prefer Obama's ideas to his. I didn't think that was necessary, and I did not want him to disregard my gratitude.
However, if he can acknowledge before a crowd that Obama is a decent man, I will repay him the favor and acknowledge that he did a decent thing.
Given the stakes in this dialogue, and the possibility of bad behavior from his supporters, I think it was very important that he did this.