Some recent diaries have taken note of McCain's silly argument about why he feels obligated to smear Obama and tell lies until his own pants set fire. The argument says: Obama would not agree to the joint Town Halls. Now that makes it Obama's fault that McCain must dishonor himself with a cynical, perversely dishonest campaign. Poor McCain. Obama forced him to do it.
Paul Reiser's excellent articleon Huffington Post said it best noting how the school yard bully McCain is speaking the equivalent of:
"I wish I didn't have to take your lunch money, but you should'nt of hadda brung it."
While I am happy to see McCain's childish argument getting this attention, I have not seen anyone note the most bizarre aspect of this situation. It is incredible that no media figure has yet to question McCain's illogical statement.
We have heard McCain make this "Obama forced me to do it" claim many times. His campaign representatives and surrogates have helped him repeat the claim on a wide range of news outlets. Just about every major news figure has had an opportunity to consider this ridiculous proposition and not one - not one - has ever paused and asked "Exactly how do you connect the dots on that?"
Please correct me if you have seen someone - anyone - ask a follow up question. I would love to know this has happened, as it would restore for me some faith that the traditional media still understands its responsibilities.
But I have not seen it. Those ladies on The View have turned out to be among the most courageous journalists of the season (and, unfortunately, I am not saying much with that), but even they failed to call McCain on his silliness.
I try to imagine a connection:
a. McCain threatened Obama by saying "either you Town Hall with me or I will sling pooh at you like a monkey in a zoo." Then Obama's refusal directly leads to what we have been enduring from McCain these past several weeks.
b. McCain's joint Town Hall plan involved his plans to lie repeatedly, shamelessly and throw mud directly at Obama's face in front of Town Hall audiences across the country. But now that Obama avoided his trap, poor McCain is forced to pollute our airwaves.
These ideas are implausible and scandalous. They cannot be true. I am left unable to imagine a reasonable connection.
And our media does not ask the question for us.
So McCain's tortured logic remains a mystery.
But the bigger mystery is why he is given so much slack.