With the oncoming debate tonight, I flinch at the thought of the nastiness that will be spewing from McCain. Part of me is encouraged, not only by Obama's ability to field such ploys handily, but by the fact that McCain's obvious surliness and contempt for Obama cost him votes last time. I can only imagine how real nastiness is going to send him further in a death spiral.
This would be amazing to hear at the debate tonight.
Here it goes after the jump....
Now know this, I have always been contemptuous of diaries and posts on any of the lefty sites which have been critical of Obama's campaign strategies, or offer armchair advice. This contempt has a basis in the fact that Obama has done the unthinkable, in both the primary and the general election. While he is not the second coming, and is capable of making mistakes, I think there has to be some point in which we have to acknowledge that someone who has put a black candidate with a Muslim daddy and an Arabic sounding name in the driver's seat for this election might just know a thing or two about campaigning.
I don't intend for this to be one of those diaries telling Obama what to do, but rather what I think would be great to hear. I do admit, however, that I am coming dangerously close. I also readily admit that Obama will come up with something that cuts closer to the bone and is more insightful, leaving me smiling and shaking my head again at the quality of our candidate.
When the inevitable smear towards Ayers or Wright appears in the debate, how great would it or this response:
"There was a time when Senator McCain said that the Wright issue was something that Americans did not want to hear. There was a time when McCain said he knew me and that he did not believe that I stood for those positions. I know now that the Senator's beliefs are based upon political context and given the right situation where he can advance is self-proclaimed "ambition to be President," he is no different from any other Republican in using fear and hate to achieve a victory at all costs.
Senator, we are at a crossroads, and for the next 28 days, you and I can go down this road. As public figures, we come into contact with many people. You can bring up the Rev. Wrights and the Tony Rezkos all you like, and I of course will be forced to respond with the Rev. Hagees, Rev. Parsleys, Rev. Murthees, Charles Keatings, Alaskan succession and G. Gordon Liddys. And we can have all kinds of fun tearing each other down much to the delight of the American media, but the loser will not be one of us, it will be the American people.
Not only will it cement in the minds of the American people that their politicians are the worst kind of self-serving, blindly ambitious people and that politics is a dishonorable institution, but it also avoids the real issues that are crippling American families. After 8 years of George Bush, and before that the bickering of both parties during the 8 years of Bill Clinton, America has gotten tired of our appealing the lesser and baser part of their natures. They are world weary and are asking for help and attention to their problems, and we will be offering them more of the same.
I know I love this country, as do you, so can we dispense with what our political advisers are shouting about and talk about what matters? In a democracy such as ours, the light of the free world, can we have an honest debate about issues where disagreement does not hinge on attacks to the other patriotism? You cannot have a democracy without open discussion, and as you yourself once admitted, these types of attacks squelch that discussion rather than abet it. I face two consequences, I may win...or I may lose, but at the end of the day I know that one day my intelligent and curious daughters are going to lookup what happened during this election, and I want to be able to answer their questions while being able to look them in the eye.
Senator, I put the question to you - Do you want to leave this race, as either winner or loser, with your head held high knowing that you are indeed the Maverick, that you helped elevate the debate about the real problems this country faces, or, as in the case of the Keating and SC flag issues, are we going to have to wait again for the confessions after the fact from you that you were mistaken. As our Senate is an institution which places a thumb on the scale for seniority, I await your cue,and on this issue alone, I will follow your lead."
I look forward to Obama making this look silly as he responds in a more insightful and precise manner.
Call. Donate. Canvass.
Nothing is a given, and 28 days is a long time.