OK, I mean six months ago, when Hillary was attacking him for the same nonsense.
There's a reason John McCain didn't bring this up in the second debate. Obama would respond with COMMON SENSE and make McCain look like an idiot. Like this:
Obama tried to answer the question and put it to rest, but Hillary pushed it farther. If McCain tries to push back also, Obama might respond with a counter-attack, like this one:
He could easily respond by mentioning any one of McCain's MANY questionable connections.
Personally, I think Obama is doing the right thing by taking the high road. These guilt-by-association politics do nothing to help me or my family. Obama is STILL (after months of distractions) trying to keep the campaign focused on the issues that matter to us.
While McCain is constantly putting out negative attacks and talking about this nonsense on the campaign trail, Barack Obama and Joe Biden are talking about solutions to the ecomonic problems and fixing the mess that the Bush administration will leave for the next president.
McCain campaign now 100% negative attacks and fear tactics
Barack Obama on his Economic Rescue Plan for the Middle Class
NOTE: At 3:05, crowd boos McCain, notice Obama's reaction
ALSO: At 11:48, Obama gives McCain credit for good idea, but suggests doing more
Yes, he could attack McCain with the same nonsense Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon style of attacks, but that just escalates the mud-slinging and doesn't help voters decide who is better on the issues.
At the end of the day, Obama has spent most of his life trying to escalate politics out of the gutter. His books focus on the importance of respecting your opponents even when you disagree. He emphasizes discussing important issues in a civilized way in order to unite people and work together for real solutions.
If he falls to the same level as McCain's campaign, he might score a few points right now, but he will alienate half the country, and that's not how he wants to become president. He's not just trying to win an election, he's trying to actually lead America into a better future, and that means uniting all Americans, even John McCain and his supporters.
And thanks to Korkie B for adding this:
These McCain connections are actually documented and MUCH more direct:
Jim Hensley, Convicted Felon;
G. Gordon Liddy, Convicted Felon;
Charles Keating, Convicted Felon;
Raffaello Follieri, Convicted Felon;
Rick Renzi, Under Indictment;
Rick Davis, Freddie Mac Lobbyist who was still on the payroll until a few weeks ago;
Charles Black, Lobbyist for Dictators;
Richard Quinn, White Supremist ;
Pastor John Hagee, Bigot;
Pastor Rod Parsley, Bigot;
Todd Palin, Member of Secessionist Group;
Andrew McCain, Resigned Manager Failed Savings and Loan
There's even more than this... McCain seriously loses the guilt by association battle.