As we all know, McCain and Palin have spent the last week spewing as much hate speech as they could muster in an effort to stir up their base, carefully skirting the line between coded speech and outright racism. "Terrorist", "Not like us", "unpatriotic", etc. Whether by design or out of sheer stupidity on their part, their care to not cross the line beyond coded speech did indeed stir up the base to such an extent their supporters decided to ignore the line and jumped over it with both feet. Supporter after supporter abandoned the subletly of claiming Obama cavorted with terrorists to actually calling him a terrorist, naming him an "Arab" - which of course meant scarey, a Muslim, saying they didn't know if he was an American, etc. Of a long line of supporters heading into a rally, one after another made and supported these kinds of statements without even one denying the statements or even suggesting they needed to be toned down.
After several days of these events occurring as a direct result of McCain and Palin's own statements, finally a number of leaders in the country, both Republicans and Democrats began dropping the MSM meme of "they all do it" and began calling McCain out. I believe they did so in the genuine fear that if things continued to escalate at the rate it was going, we would soon be facing the very real possibility of the rhetoric developing into violence.
One of these wise and brave leaders who happens to be a Democrat highly respected by both parties, including John McCain, and is considered the "conscience of the Senate", John Lewis, issued a warning to John McCain that his words could lead to violence whether he intended them to or not. In his warning, John Lewis used the example of George Wallace's words having evoked violence without himself ever having participated in it.
And what was the reaction of John McCain? Was it to listen to the words of this man for him he has stated he feels great respect and reconsider his approach? No, of course not. It was to attack this man who has simply asked McCain to consider the potential serious consequences of his words and to put the interest of this country ahead of the interest of his failed campaign. McCain acts as though - and essentially claims - John Lewis compared him to George Wallace and his racists acts rather than simply using George Wallace's example as a warning of what is possible to do with mere words. I say it's time for Bush to put on his big boy pants and deal honestly for once in his life with legitimate and important criticism coming from a source that he well knows is not biased and is being given only in the spirit of preventing violence and further division in this country.
As usual, the Republicans take on the mantle of victim. They have no responsibility whatsoever for anything. They can attack as viciously as they they can manage. And if anyone objects, they, the ones who are making the vicious attacks suddenly somehow become the victims. Unbelieveable. When Obama voiced an objection about the words of his supporters, Palin claimed he was attempting to suppress their "freedom of speech". Unbelievable.
I sit in awe of the Republicans. Truly. How can the bullies manage to turn themselves into the victims so quickly and so frequently? It's a skill that is so engrained, so highly developed it would be admirable if the results weren't so devastating.
I know this is just another aspect of their entire approach to politics. Take the strength of the opposition and use it against them; take your own weakness and impose it on the opposition. The "Christians" scream infringement of their rights whenever they're prevented from imposing their own personal beliefs on others; claim corruption by the other party in order to hide or deflect from their own, etc. And they have each of these tactics down so fine, we have a difficult time catching them sometimes, even while we are watching carefully for them.
But I believe they have honed the skill of appearing the victim when they are in fact acting the bully to such a fine point that few, particularly those in the MSM, see it for what it is at all. They, the majority of the MSM, are like the mother who just doesn't want to believe her little boy could be a bully, and so is ready to accept whatever story little Johnny comes up with. But even those with better critiquing skills miss what the Republicans are doing as they put on their mantle of victimhood. Even the Democrats who appear on teevee to discuss just don't seem to get it. They realize there's something off, that somehow the arguments being made just don't make sense, but they can't pinpoint what's off. They just don't get that McCain Is Not The Victim in this fight.
So, my advice to them is to just go out there and say: Senator McCain, if you're going to go out and make vicious attacks against Senator Obama and encourage your running mate to make even worse attacks, then put on your big boy pants and be ready to take the consequences, which just might include a little criticism of yourself. Grow up John. If you want to be president, you really need to wear your big boy pants.