So I return from Allentown, PA where I am listening to Michelle Obama give a thoughtful, caring presentation in a Roundtable for Military Spouses. It' s about service to the country, loyalty, perseverance and integrity.
I return home only to find that John McCain has performed the opposite of loyalty, perseverance and integrity.
These colors apparently do run.
If the debates become suspended that is not suspending the campaign. That's suspending democracy. The campaign is not some sort of party, happy get-together. The debates are an integral part of the American experience, and the democratic process.
Our country has faced crises before, and our response, for which we are often quite proud, is perseverance and steadfastness. After all, as "bombs burst in air," Frances Scott Key noted, "our flag was still there." He may well ask if the "star spangled banner still waves o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." It is clear that at least one integral part of our democratic process, a candidate for the American presidency, does not want any publicity right now. He cannot handle it, he cannot untangle his own campaign, and wants to bring down Senator Obama's campaign.
We Americans are made of sterner stuff.
As I canvass the older citizens of the slate belt in Pennsylvania, a frequent refrain is "Oh, I am so happy there's going to be a debate. Now I can see these two candidates together and make up my mind!"
It's almost as if someone from Senator McCain's campaign has been listening to these conversations, and is saying, "Oh no, the people of the battleground states are really placing lots of stock in this debate. John can't begin to rival Senator Obama in eloquence, and admits it to all who listen. This is not going to be good. Hey, let's say we care about the economy, and just suspend things for a while."
You know, that's what we used to call a "cop out."
It's the kind of thing adolescents do when they can't figure out why they don't want to go to school, or do the dishes or finish their homework. It's a smokescreen behind which a frightened old man sits with his hands clasped tightly in front of him, murmuring to himself, "Why did I do this?"
While Senator McCain expects our young soldiers to stand their ground in Iraq, despite constant barrage of mortar and attacks from all sides, here this great and noble military man who is always reminding us of his nobility as a prisoner of war, begs to take some time off with the excuse that he suddenly realizes our economy is a shambles and he wants to go to Washington and do something about it.
Well, I guess sometimes, these colors do run!!!