Many Kossacks have called for Markos to take down this story about McCain's yellowed teeth. I'm heartened to see that there are two diaries on the rec list condemning this diary. Their appearance on the rec list suggests that many Kossacks feel that this story was a "Gross" mistake.
Most comments have called for Markos to pull the story from the site. While that's not a bad idea, and is something that should happen, it's not enough. He should publish a formal retraction -- a real, sincere apology.
Comments to the diary include many "LMAO"s and "old person" jokes. I guess I shouldn't be totally surprised to see this kind of juvenile piling on. It's a function of the success of Obama's internet campaign. So many of those "friends" on Facebook have migrated here, turning a site once dedicated to serious political discussion to the equivalent of a politically-themed AOL chatroom. I saw one comment that this "general election will be fun". I hope not. This is serious business, and Markos' shallow, juvenile and hypocritical (he made fun of one Republican for using a body double in publicity photos) post demeans the site and everyone associated with it.
Until Markos apologizes and formally retracts this story, there will be those who think that this kind of trivial and insulting crap is accepted here -- that it will result in lots of back-slapping laughter from fellow comrades-in-arms. Obama has already said that Democrats will not engage in the trivial politics of the past. He wants a debate on the issues. Markos has already undercut this. He should apologize and declare that henceforth this kind of shallow, juvenile attack will not be welcome here.
Some things are funny. This was not. I'd like to believe that Americans aren't this shallow -- but all the money that is wasted on teeth-whitening says otherwise. I'm sure the amount exceeds the yearly GDP of whole countries. Kos needs to set down a marker. A little levity is OK, but we won't be this shallow.
***Update*** Because I thikn this needs to be said -- If you think teeth are funny, or worse, think they matter -- Consider this: George W. Bush has straight, white teeth, and full hair -- and that probably was enough to win the election for him -- if 600 Floridians thought they liked his looks. If you think McCain's teeth, or his hairline, or his ages pots, or even his age, are really worth criticizing or laughing at, then I think you deserve every George W. Bush we get....Maybe, we could nominate more Bill Clintons, too.