On Fridays "Real Time", the issue of John McCain's "repudiation" of his supporter who mentioned that she feared Barack Obama because he was an "arab" was discussed. It was a valid point which I hadn't really thought about at the time. McCain's defense of Obama at the time to me was admirable, even if long overdue. He said simply "He's a good man" (I'm paraphrasing). Admirable of course, but did that address the real issue? Did he deny the accusation???? NO. The McCain campaign and the GOP want to have it both ways and its time to end this. It's the classic "whispering" campaign tactic. Remember 3rd grade? (Barack Obama is a muslim...... pass it down!!).
It's time to get the candidates views on these "allegations" on the record. Let's call it the de-Hannityisation of the campaign.
The media, while reporting about nonsensical aspects of Barack Obama (birth certificate, childhood education, Ayers, etc........) always miss the point. It works like this.
Right Wing Talk Radio: "Barack Obama went to a madrassa!!!!"
MSM: "Allegations have been made that as a child, Obama attended a madrassa".
MSM, questioning Obama: "Barack, there have been allegations in regard to the school you attended as a child".....
Then, Obama is forced to respond:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/...
"To be clear, Senator Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised a Muslim, and is a committed Christian who attends the United Church of Christ in Chicago. Furthermore, the Indonesian school Obama attended in Jakarta is a public school that is not and never has been a Madrassa."
Debunked? Yes. But for many especially on the right, the allegation alone creates the fear. But I have yet to see a reporter ask anyone speaking for McCain, or especially the candidate himself, what he thinks of these allegations. Obama has not "gone there" with McCain, with anything other than Keating 5, which happened while McCain was IN the senate, involved a BANK FAILURE which is relevant given the current Wall Street Crisis, AND the man is running for President!! Keating 5 and Ayers are NOT on the same level, not even CLOSE. Typically, anything like this is addressed as a "smear", with McCain not addressing the heart of the matter.
I would like SOMEONE, anyone is the media to ask John McCain the following questions in a live interview. Simple questions. To expose his views. These are all issues that the right, the GOP or someone on the fringe has put out there. And the voters deserve to know if McCain personally agrees with these sometimes wacko views. Please use the comments to suggest additional and REASONABLE questions for the media to ask of John McCain and Sarah Palin and their surrogates in the home stretch. The goal is to expose them for the nut jobs that they are (if they agree with the criticism) OR it will drive a wedge between the far right views that some have and the McCain campaign if they condemn then, as they should, reducing their support in the process by repudiating parts of their "base". Keep your questions reasonable, imagine Bob Scheiffer or Tom Brokaw asking the question. We're going for middle America here. We need McCain ON record.
- John McCain, when you defended Barack Obama as a "good man" at one of your campaign events against someone who mentioned she was fearful of him because he was an Arab, you didn't directly address her concern, one shared by many on the right. Do you believe that Barack Obama is an "arab", and do you think that allegations such as this have a place in the campaign? (follow up if he answers YES) Does his racial makeup make him any less "american" than any other candidate or citizen?
- Sarah Palin, you spoke strongly about "pro american" parts of the United States. What did you mean by that, and is there a particular area geographically, demographically, intellectually or politically here in the United States, that is not Pro-American?
- John McCain or Sarah Palin, this is in regard to voter registration. As you both know, the Bush Administration has been widely criticized for politicizing the Justice Department, in particular in the area of investigations of political matters close to elections, changing a long standing rule. This was at the heart of the prosecutor firings that led to the resignation of a sitting head of the Justice Department, Alberto Gonzalez. First off, please comment on your views on how the Bush Administration ran the justice department, then tell me if you think there is a connection between their policies and recent investigations of voter registration efforts of groups such as ACORN. (follow up). Do you think that voter REGISTRATION fraud such as the ones you allege with ACORN directly equate to voting fraud?
- John McCain or Sarah Palin, do you think that the VOTER REGISTRATION concerns regarding ACORN are as serious as many GOP legal efforts to purge voter rolls in swing states such as Ohio and Michigan? Are you concerned about continuing problem with electronic voting machines and the fraud uncovered after the 2004 elections? (follow up) Is working to lower turnout in Democratic areas an official policy of your campaign or that of the GOP?
- John McCain or Sarah Palin, if elected would you support election day voter registration and expansion of early voter policies that we see working successfully in places such as Georgia to reduce the strain on the polls on election day and also to increase turnout of the electorate?
- John McCain, in 2000, you were the victim of a vicious robo-call attack in the South Carolina Primary that many acknowledge led to your loss, and it ended your bid that year. As a victim of this tactic, you have condemned these calls in the past, saying you would never use them. With these facts in mind, why have you gone back on your word and hired the same firm that victimized you in 2000 to place robo-calls on your behalf in this election, many of the calls providing misleading information on your opponent? Do you know of this operation? Do you agree with it and support it? Would you like it stopped?
- Sarah Palin, how do you plan to explain to the residents of Alaska your involvement in the matters regarding the firing of Walt Monegan which found that you misused your power as governor? Is an apology in order?
- Sarah Palin and John McCain, what do you mean by "maverick". Is there a difference between going against the tide politically and going against the will of the voters?
- John McCain, Sarah Palin, Barack Obama and Joe Biden: After this long fight which you all passionately believe in, if you were to lose November 4th, would you accept the verdict of the voters and support the winning candidates and do all that you can to help them bring America back to the place that we all believe it should be politically, economically and socially? Do you believe its time for us to "come together"? Do we need to live in a post-partisan world, as described by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger?
And from here, I leave it to the peanut gallery!!! Lets come up with some questions since the media seems to be stumped again!!!