Dear John,
I liked you. I really did. I can remember a time when you were the best of the Republican party, offering a voice of reason in an otherwise unreasonable party. When others in your party applauded the bigot Falwell, you told him to go to hell.
I can see why voters in New Hampshire liked you. Your story was an American story: you fought for your country in war, you were injured, you ran for office back home, got involved in a scandal and seemingly learned from your mistake – becoming an advocate for ethics and reform. You embraced openness and honesty (or "straight talk," as you liked to call it), and were rewarded for it. You earned yourself a strong run for the White House, and came tantalizingly close to winning your party’s nomination in 2000. To have lost, then, must have been painful. You lost to someone who didn’t serve his country as you did. You lost to someone who dragged you and your family through mud. You must have been disgusted.
Why, then, you decided to abandon all regard for honesty and moral clarity, I do not know. Perhaps you learned all the wrong lessons from 2000. You should have seen that Americans ARE clamoring for a different kind of politics. You should have seen that Americans DO want honest talk and bi partisan solutions from their President. Tragically, instead, you decided to embrace the same dirty campaign tactics that your opponent used to defeat you.
Where is the John McCain I once knew? That John McCain would not have kowtowed to the Bush tax breaks for the super-rich, after opposing them as a senator. That John McCain would not have publicly supported Prop 8, essentially writing discrimination into the California constitution. And that John McCain would never ever, even consider putting our country at risk by choosing an unprepared vice presidential candidate – making a selection based on politics.
No. This presidential candidate is utterly unrecognizable from the man who ran 8 years ago. He is neither maverick nor one who is putting country first. From the accusations and slandering of his opponent as "terrorist," to the vicious, violent and frenzied state of his supporters at rallies, to the racist smears perpetrated "under the radar."
His campaign will, of course, declare their innocence. They will claim "independence from" surrogates and "inability to control" the crowds who attend their rallies. At some point, though, protestations begin to ring hollow. That point has arrived. No longer should we tolerate surrogates who say that Barack Obama in "un-American" on national television. No longer should we tolerate campaign spokesmen who literally offer racebait to the American people.
What is most sad is that it didn’t have to be this way. Why do it? For what? How many racists do you think there are in this country? Enough to gain a point in the polls? Two? Let’s say you get really lucky and get three points. You will still lose. I’m sorry, but that’s the truth. Tell me, was the trade worth it? Were those 3 points worth your reputation, honor, and legacy?
I didn't think so. And so, I offer you one, last chance for redemption. As I said, it didn't have to be this way. This could have been an election about the future. And so, I urge you, in these waning days of the campaign: abandon your destructive campaign. Denounce the politics of hate. Remove those Rovian lackeys who would push back against this.
You claim to be at your best when the situation is bleakest. Well, enough is enough, Senator McCain. This is it. Your legacy is on the line. Your feet are to the fire. You are 6 points down with no timeouts left. What will we see from your campaign in the final days? A respectful farewell, or this? Your choice, Senator McCain. Make it a good one.