This Is What You Get

To “turn the page” on the bad news of the economy, the McCain campaign announced they would only run negative ads against Barack Obama and Joe Biden. One hundred percent negative ads.

John McCain and Sarah Palin followed suit, attacking Obama’s character on the campaign trail, and as you probably know, Palin even told a crowd that Obama was “palling around with terrorists.”

In response John McCain supporters have grown more and more enraged while McCain or Palin rally their troops.

“Socialists are going to take over the country,” said an angry supporter to McCain. McCain seemed to agree with the man.

Later, “Terrorist,” shouted someone with more anger.

“He’s an Arab,” – said one woman.

And finally, “Kill him!”

Well, I guess this is what you get.

John McCain is trying really really hard to win the election. Let’s just hope he doesn’t incite his supporters into violence against Obama voters before this is all over.

Most of these comments have been overlooked by the McCain campaign, even encouraged by the lack of response, especially by Palin. Today, in an abrupt 180, McCain told the woman who called Obama an Arab, "No ma'am, no ma'am. He's a decent family man...[a] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. That's what this campaign is all about."

I can’t believe I even have to write this; Obama has been a Christian his entire life. He is not Muslim. Arab is an ethnic distinction, not a religious one. And for the record, McCain didn’t correct the woman on her Arab claim. In his statement, McCain basically punted.

I am not sure how any of you feel about the economy tanking, your healthcare, your debt, our troops abroad, energy costs, the environment, etc. etc. But I know how I feel about the McCain campaign’s new strategy. It is criminally dangerous. And it reeks of fear-mongering to stir up hatred for Obama.

Here is my plea to all of us:

If you need to blame, that is fair. If you seek different perspectives, that is even better. And expressing your discontent simultaneously with your most precious hopes for the future is downright American. But please, please, too many people already spend too much time hating and fearing what they perceive to be different than themselves. Do not incite hate. We need to try to understand ourselves as Americans, all of us, and use our freedom of speech for constructive dialogue, and of course, by voting our hopes and our beliefs.