I haven't cruised the comments sections much this week, but I have been surprised no one has diaried about McCain's "don't be distracted by the ground noise and static." I'm not sure about you all, but nothing more from this week infuriated me more. I was pissed off by the subtle racism, the wealthy slave owner talking down to the uppity Negro talk on Wednesday, Palin's lies and sarcastic scorn, and the fear mongering, but McCain's unscripted remarks following the second interruption by protesters on Thursday sent me over the top.
More below.
The "ground noise and static" McCain was of course referring too were anti-war protesters and peace activists. Now, I must confess, I was a Republican and supported the invasion of Iraq in 2003. At that time, I believed in our president, and like most Americans, I believed that Saddam Hussein was a real threat to the US. Then there were WMDs, terrorism, nuclear and biological programs, and all sorts of reasons to hate Saddam pouring into my eyes and ears. Then Collin Powell, a nearly everyone respects and trusts, stood in front of my eyes, the UN, the world and made the case. I was sold and I wouldn't be deterred. But I digress, we know how this story progresses. I supported the war then, but I don't now. In fact, it would be flat-out ignorance for anyone to say honestly that if they could do it all over again, they would still support the war. The evidence is staggering that we were all intentionally lied to, for reasons I care not to even know, to further an agenda of a small minority in they country. Now we have woken up.
Well, most of us have woken up to what is right. Today nearly 66% of America is against the war in Iraq and favors withdrawl. Now, I'm not a political genius, but it seems to me that calling the majority of Americans "ground noise and static" would be suicide. But this is not why I was so upset by his remark. I want to believe that McCain means he will bring change to Washington. I mean, as much as I support Barack, I have to tell myself there is a chance, albeit small, that he may not win. So, I want to believe that McCain will also be good for America. John McCain, your comments on Thursday confirmed one thing to me and everything else uttered by all the hateful blowhards (save maybe Huckabee) at your convention became ground noise and static.
YOU ARE NOT CHANGE.
You will bring the same attitude towards dissenting opinions as the current administration. Your VP laughs at my constitutional rights, you talk down to the first black man to achieve the presidential nomination of a major political party, and you call my, and the majority of America's, opposition to a war that should have never been fought "ground noise and static." Sir, I am not even very religious, but I pray to all the gods there are that you will never see the White House, save for as a tourist. You are bad for the country. You are bad for my daughter. You are not change.