The most dishonorable campaign in U.S. history

November 1, 2008 at 4:09 pm (John McCain: Lost Integrity) (dishonorable campaign, Joe-the-Plumber, McCain, Palin)

Something happened to John McCain in the early summer, just before the Republican convention. It was during this time that he was coerced by powerful RNC operatives to select a person he knew nothing about to be his running-mate. At that moment, McCain made a key decision: he would do and say whatever was necessary to win this election, even if it compromised his integrity and put the nation in peril. When he came to that conclusion, the tone of his campaign turned bitter and angry. His manic, thumbs-up gyrations seemed more like punches at some invisible opponent, and his smile became more grimace-like. The words “My name is John McCain and I approved this message” became a label that would stick to any insinuation, half-truth or outright distortion. McCain knew exactly what he was doing when he decided to “go negative”. It had nothing to do with “Country First.” It was all about “Campaign First” and victory at any cost. I don’t think Senator McCain has enjoyed this campaign, but it’s clear that Sarah Palin has wallowed in the adoration it has brought her. When she speaks at rallies, it’s like watching a stand-up comic who knows she has the audience in the palm of her hand and that every joke will work. It is telling that both McCain and Palin have chosen to exploit a hapless oaf who has turned out to be a pathological liar with show business aspirations. Joe-the-Plumber is a mythical character who has been co-invented by an out-of-work handyman and the Republican Party in an attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of the most uninformed, gullible voters in the country. That is where John McCain has pinned his hopes. If you’re going to vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin, it is important that you understand what these candidates think of your critical skills and basic intelligence. Because they’ve been talking to you as if you have a 2nd grade education and believe whatever you see on television. While Barack Obama is saying that he admires John McCain’s courage and his service to this country, John McCain is casting suspicion on Obama’s patriotism, religious beliefs and integrity. When McCain loses this election, it will be because he showed the American people that he is not the man he has pretended to be for so many years. When the chips were down, it was more important to him to win his “victory” than it was to keep his honor and run a clean campaign.