After the Republican convention I asked a very simple question of whether we were being incited to war. I found the rhetoric and the fury of the speakers and crowd to be of concern. Now weeks later this same sense of inciting violence is apparent in John McCain's campaign.
Campbell Brown speaks of the "race baiting" and hateful rhetoric at the McCain rallies. She also admonishes us all about our language as well. Agreed. I also agree that while McCain generally shows disdain for Obama, the "that one" comment may not have been racially motivated. The problem, however, comes with the rhetoric of his surrogates which clearly incites violence and the hateful replies of the rally goers.
Today the tone is somewhat softer in that Senator McCain undoubtedly, after hearing the outcry of so many Republicans and Democrats alike for three whole days, asked the crowd to be respectful. Surely he heard the violent cries of the crowd for three days. Why not appeal for calm then?
Well, MCain's late appeal for calm now doesn't quite cut it, though it's appreciated for the safety of Senator Obama. Crackpots loom. If there is not something within which immediately responds to such hate speech as "terrorist," "kill him" and "off with his head," this should be concern for us all. The appeal for calm seems like it has more to do with the latest polls showing that people do like such things.
The appeal seems politically driven. After all, Cindy McCain herself whipped the crowd up into a hateful frenzy. John McCain does not appear to be the man he has been for many years. Or, is it that we have not known John McCain? Whatever the case, the one who is now seeking the presidency is indeed a leader the country and the world does not need.
Wars, including cultural and class warfare, begin with hateful rhetoric. This is not what we need.
4 comments:
No, surely we don't need more incitement to hatred now.... still this morning I did appreciate this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/us/politics/11trooper.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
I know... I'm evil ;-)
Yes, -a-c-, it is clear that Senator McCain did not fully vett his VP choice. You talk about a lack of judgment. He simply seems like an erratic hot-head to me. I do not know this independent fair rational Senator that others speak of. What I know is a grumpy erratic very senior senator who will do just about anything to win, including imploying despicable tactics with one hand and calling for calm with the other. The straight talk express, as others have known him to be, has definitely been derailed.
Another promising sign, - a - c - , is North Korea being removed from the Terror list. I wonder if Bush will also remove them from the Evil list. In a world of Good and Evil it's important to know under which column to list each country. That approach has served us well, enabling us to greatly simplify our military policy - especially in the Mideast where Sarah Palin says it's obvious who the good guys and bad guys are. I presume it's also obvious to her who the good guys and bad guys are on the world economic stage.
Many think that the US pre-emptive strikes of Iraq was an evil act, especially considering the false claims of weapons of mass destruction and the deaths of so many civilians, including women and children. Such name calling does no good.
Such irony, John, is too much!
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