Here's something I've found to be generally true about any good take-down piece: the last sentence is always its own line and it always is powerful enough to hit home. This piece does it in spades. Join me below the fold for discussion about what's what.
Now, The Washington Post seems to vacillate in most people's minds somewhere between Greatest Thing Ever and Republican Scum Rag. Today, I think it's more of the former than the latter. With Obama hitting McCain on the Keating Five scandal and the LA Times mythbusting McCain's war record, it was only a matter of time before someone reminded America that John McCain had a nine month affair with Cindy Lou Hensley (later Cindy McCain) while still married to his first wife.
Not to be too torrid, but there's a lot of information in this piece. A potentially damaging issue is that he lied on national television about the circumstances of his relationship with Cindy McCain. Specifically, he told Larry King that he and Carol were separated, when in fact the two were still living together and still married during that time. However, what really jumps out at me is what I mentioned in the intro:
At the Republican National Convention this summer, the family came together to celebrate McCain's triumphant moment. "Everyone," says McCain's old friend and lawyer Bud Day, "was there and jovial."
Everyone except Carol. She declined to join her children and her ex-husband.
It was probably just as well. The buildup to McCain's acceptance speech included an eight-minute video that celebrated his life, work and family. At its conclusion, delegates in the convention hall erupted in applause.
Carol McCain, the woman who stood beside McCain through triumph and tragedy, was never mentioned.
Excerpts from Washington Post article: The Separate Peace of John and Carol
Now, I agree with Barack Obama that John McCain's family ought to be off-limits. But John McCain having an affair for nine months before leaving his wife only the lie about it later is about John McCain and the type of judgment he'd bring to the office. Do we really want another lying, scheming, cheating scumbag in the office?
We've had eight years of that.
I am not advocating using this any other way than pointing swing voters to this article and letting them decide what John McCain's judgment and character really are. My guess is that a lot of people won't find him less of a maverick and more of a swinger.
Playboy also comes to mind.