Nobody questions the Palin/McCain ticket’s right to attack Obama’s record, policy positions and even run negative but truthful advertisements. And nobody questions the Obama/Biden ticket’s right to do the same.
The campaign should and must be a vigorous debate on the differences between the candidates positions, record and character.
But the Palin/McCain ticket has gone out of bounds, way out bounds, in their boneheaded strategy of raising doubts about Barack Obama’s “American-ness,” patriotism and allegiances. They’ve gone so far as asking, “Who is the real Barack Obama?” Implying all sorts of things. Implying he is a terrorist and/or terrorist sympathizer. Implying that he is a Manchurian Muslim candidate. Implying that he is dangerous, and…an un-American enigma.
And we’ve seen and heard the results of the chickens coming home to roost from these tactics.
The shouts at Palin/McCain rallies of “terrorist,” “off with his head,” “treason,” “kill him,” etc.
And that is something that nobody can accept. Put aside the dangerous hatred Palin/McCain are fomenting with less than a month to go.
The real danger is the environment they are creating after they lose on November 4th. Granted it is a relatively small minority of people who have the same seething hatred that Palin/McCain have for Obama or that they have learned to embrace from Palin/McCain. (Or maybe not so small).
But it is a large enough number of people and such a fuming pile of hatred and racism, that it won’t simply dissipate when Palin and McCain return from where they came and their nonsense leaves the airwaves and internet. The hatred, whose flames they have fanned, and its attendant violence will remain.
We know who Barack Obama is. He is the next President of the United States.
And what could be more treasonous than spreading racist, violent hatred towards the President?
Oh no, I’m not suggesting that Palin/McCain concede the election. Not at all, that would be absurd. I’m suggesting that they have gone too far with their dangerous game. So far that it will impact the Obama presidency with a portion of population.
It’s too late, but Palin/McCain should have thought long and hard about what they are doing. They should have debated the issues, even lied on the issues or stretched the truth. But the minute they started pouring blood, by the gallon, in the water, they lost the right to even be considered for the high offices they seek.
We know who Barack Obama is. He is the next President of the United States. So back off.