Tom Brokaw and Chris Matthews were discussing the McCain hatefest tonight on Hardball. And after showing the clip of the woman who, on Friday, told McCain of her fears that Obama is an Arab...
Brokaw begins to explain that this was an important moment for McCain. Because McCain did what anyone here would have done - he corrected her and noted that Obama is an honorable man. Brokaw explained that this was the McCain who promised to run an honorable campaign. This was the McCain who people thought they'd see more, he added. And then he explained that it should be understood that McCain is not a natural candidate for the Republican party, somehow justifying the vile toxic waste dump that has become the McCain Palin campaign.
I immediately thought about my son. We often discuss values, and how difficult it is to stand up for what you believe in when you are feeling pressure from others to behave differently. It's hard because he's in fourth grade. And we talk about what to do when you feel pressure to lie or cheat in order to gain an advantage or be liked by others. But at McCain's age, it shouldn't be so hard. We teach our children values in order to help them navigate the pressures of being a teen or adult. But by the time we are in our 20s, most of us have figured out that we don't have to do what others are telling us to do if what they're saying is wrong.
McCain named his campaign (or at least it's vehicle) "The Straight Talk Express", presumably in recognition of the importance of the value of honesty. He prides himself on what is perceived to be his history of honorable conduct. And yet, from what Brokaw seems to be saying, when others are putting pressure on him to abandon the values he claims to hold so dear, it should be understandable. And McCain should be praised for the behavior we expect on a daily basis from our children.
In addition to learning how not to succumb to peer pressure, as we get older we learn to accept (and assign) responsibility for misconduct. McCain is the equivalent of a CEO of a major corporation with thousands of employees. He sets the policy and he sets the tone.
Mr. Brokaw - Why is it that a candidate for president is any less responsible for the conduct of those working for him? Do we expect and hope for lesser values and accountability in the President than we do for our fourth graders? And should we praise someone running for President if, while wallowing in the muck, he comes up for air, before diving down once more?