Archive for October 11th, 2008
Campaign Turns Nasty
The rumors and innuendos about Barack Obama are really starting to take hold.
During a discussion of the presidential campaign on Paltalk today, all kinds of accusations were tossed out at Obama by John McCain partisans.
He was attacked for his sexuality (the married father of two was declared gay).
He was attacked for his association with William Ayers.
He was called a terrorist and a terrorist supporter.
He was called a Muslim.
He was attacked for his race.
You get the picture.
I came under attack as well, while trying to moderate the discussion. Some people left the chat in disgust because I wouldn’t allow personal attacks on Obama. Declaring me “biased” and “unfair.”
At least, unlike John McCain, I didn’t get booed.
That’s right. McCain was booed by his own supporters for calling Obama a “decent person.”
Perhaps because he’s aware that his campaign is in trouble, McCain went further, attempting to calm his supporters by suggesting that they “do not have to be scared” of Obama as president of the United States.
Imagine that.
McCain’s attempts at interjecting a degree of civility among his own supporters earned him jeers.
What has happened to the political discourse in this country? Can’t we discuss the candidacies of those running for president without the name calling and hyperbole? Are those of us who are standing up to this kind of mob thought just setting ourselves up as targets?
Someone asked during tonight’s discussion on Paltalk why, in general, better candidates, who put public service first, don’t rise to the top.
I responded that, without taking away from the attributes of Obama and McCain, the “gotcha” campaign style that has evolved in the United States dissuades many who might otherwise run from offering their services to the nation.
We all have skeletons in our closets. Who in their right minds would want to expose ourselves and our families to the kind of ridicule that sanctimonious critics would fire their way? No wonder so many people with talent and ability are so reluctant to serve.
