You didn't ask me, but I think Monday, October 6th will mark a month-long escalation of the campaign of mud-slinging, distortions and outright lies against the Obama campaign by the McCain/Palin team.Bereft of any substantive resolutions to the myriad problems facing America, McCain will expose his dark side and simultaneously unleash his pit bull running-mate to smear Sen. Obama in any way possible. It will get ugly - and I bet a lot uglier than the swiftboating of John Kerry.
We saw the start of it on Saturday, when, according to the Huffington Post, "...Palin...accused Democrat Barack Obama of "palling around with terrorists" because of an association with a former '60s radical, a harsh attack on his character that she repeated at three separate campaign events without substantiation."
This month-long attack happens in the context of an American culture that thrives on negative advertising, gossip and dirt. Americans are hooked on it, like a drug addict to the crack pipe. More, more, they demand, give me more.
Few campaigns in the modern era have been completely free of dirty politics, which generally means the use of slander, libel and other potentially criminal acts to embarrass a political rival.
The Times of London reports that "The McCain campaign is acutely aware that it is running out of “game-changing” scenarios, while Obama has strengthened his hand in at least eight battleground states, including the former Republican strongholds of Indiana, Virginia and North Carolina. There are differences of opinion within the campaign about how aggressive McCain should be. The Arizona senator, 72, already has a reputation for irascibility. However, a supporter asked him last week when he would get tough with his opponent. “How about Tuesday night?” he responded."
So as pit bull Palin slings the mud in California, McCain prepares to unleash his inner Darth Vader Tuesday night in Tennessee. Should be compelling television!
I like how blogger Charlotte Weybright put it best - "If You Can't Beat 'Em, Muck Them..."
Let's hope that once and for all Americans see beyond the lies and stay focused on how important this election is to all of us. The issues we confront are too immense to allow radical, unqualified, ideologues to once again run this country.
