Political Punch

"Well, John worked well with us. I mean there were so many occasions when we would work on legislation together. He would look for a prominent Democrat to work with on a number of things, whether it was campaign reform or, now its climate change.

But over the years, it was it was commonly understood that if you wanted a Republican partner, John was one of the people you could often times talk to. We all had a good friendship with him, so it transcended politics. It, he is truly somebody who could work both sides of the aisle and has great friends and relationships with people on both sides. So the personal relationships, I think, created the environment where you could actually talk about doing something professionally or politically. Then add to that the frustration that he had especially towards Bush and that first year following the presidential election and he had the right mix for at least the possibility of serious negotiations."

-Tom Daschle D-SD
Former Senate Majority Leader

Everyone needs to take a deep breath with regards to William Ayers. The committee that Ayers sits on with Obama is for Chicago Education. It was started by, and is attended by many republicans and democrats. Let's stop with the petty hate mongering. If you don't like Obama's policies/positions, then exercise your right as an American and vote for McCain.

Based upon this theory, I'm scared to death to see Obama as President:

I believe, since Barack Obama's graduation from Harvard, he has been using coat tails to get where he wants to go. For instance, what other purpose would Obama have for sustaining a relationship with a radical, Bill Ayers, unless he had an agenda? And why would a freshman Senator be challenged to run for Presidential office unless his "friend" had an agenda? How many Americans go to bed wondering if Obama does win the election, how many times Bill Ayers will be visiting the White House? How many committees he may serve on? How much Ayers phylosophy will nurture Obama's decision-making process as President. My thoughts are this: the reason Obama doesn't want military action, in any country, is because of his same association with Ayers. His views are that Americans should suffer and be bombed and people killed before we stand upon our beliefs and values/morals as a nation and go inside another country with military action. I'm scared to death. I believe if Obama is elected, we'll then see the Real Obama!

IF YOU CAN NAME ONE THING THAT BARACK OBAMA HAS DONE THAT QUALIFIES HIM TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THEN YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR HIM.

SILENCE

So you mean to tell me, since the news media isn't saying what the republicans want them to say, then its ok to get your supporters so hyped to where they result to language such as "kill the man"? and what proof do anyone have that "B-a-r-a-c-k Obama" is tied into terrorisum? in the know.

I have a question, was John McCain in office "IN" Arizona with Governor Mecum in 1985ish through 1989ish? Curious to know.

For me this campaign creates a first. Never before have I heard a candidate tacitly encourage the killing of a rival. That's unchartered waters right there. And in today's debate McCain was silent about it AND the Ayers claims, which says as much as you need to know about their integrity.

That aside, one might ask, if one is going to ask about domestic terrorism, what about Palin's own Pastor Muthee, who, after all, boasts of running a woman out of town for being a witch and is credited by Palin with her becoming governor. What about Mccain's connection with a convicted Cuban terrorist whose organisation "Omega 7" actually did set off bombs on US soil (Jersey and NY) and murdered a Chilean diplomat (Orlando Letelier) on US soil, and the efforts of Lieberman on his behalf? McCain actually embraced this man at a rally and used his endorsement in a pitch for the support of Cuban emigres. Then there is McCain's connection with the group providing the front for Reagan's Iran Contra funding that actually carried out the mining of Managua Harbour in 1984.

Once you open this can of worms, it's interesting what comes out.

Palin and McCain are clearly encouraging this sort of rhetoric, the cries of "Terrorist" and "Kill him" while avoiding crossing the line themselves. This gives them deniability when their rabid fans go nuts. But it's still shameful. By analogy, it's like inciting to riot, or "fighting words", where you are legally culpable for encouraging violence even if you don't commit the violence yourself.

Bad news for Sheriff Michael Joseph Scott. Federal authorities have opened an investigation of him for his participation in the Palin rally yesterday.

The American people are not as stupid as the people of the ilk of Sarah Louise Palin and John McBush think they are. Instead od tyring to pull all Americans together at this time of crisis is not very Christian like. We all know the code words of racial discrimination are and Sarah we are not going for it. Why don't you want to talk about the issues facing our country and offer up some resolutions to the problems? It appears that your small mind is not up to or capable of the task at hand and neither is your VP, John Mc Bush.

A Year ago I told my friends thet "If the Republicans nominate McCain, I'll vote for McCain -- because of all the politicians in congress he probably has a higher code of honor." Now, a year later, I am disappointed to say it mildly and politely, he and his campaign staff are not showing much honorable conduct or class. His sleezy commercials and slandering enuendo's has sent me firmly into Obama's camp with his Staff of apparently more professional advisors. An old comment I heard once upon a time -- To do the things it takes to win the White House pretty much proves you don't deserve to win the White House. Senator McCain, win or lose, you have shamed yourself.

McCain 2000: "Uh, I, I just have to rely on the good judgment of the voters not to buy into these negative attack ads. Sooner or later, people are going to figure out if all you run is negative attack ads you don't have much of a vision for the future or you're not ready to articulate it." [The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, 2/21/2000]

This quote seems pretty appropriate right now…

They are going to provoke their avid followers into doing something horrible to Obama.
McCain/Palin are the ones using terrorist tactics to win this election.

Palin saying "i'm scared", "i'm afraid" when refering to barack. inferring that he likes people who wish harm on our country, filing for investigation into his donations.

The terrorist do the same. Make their followers fearful, convince them that we will do harm to their homeland, claiming their targets have friendship and funding from the west.

It seems as though McCain/Palin are trying to incite violence, hatred, and terror to fire up their base.

Who are the real terrorists?
They lost my vote now that they have decided to ignore the issues facing us and focus on smear campaigns.

Paige,
please. I'm guessing you're a page in the McCain campain, right? Listen young one, don't trust them grups you're hanging with. Read a real book written by real investigators and seekers of the truth. Give your mind a chance to grow before it withers on the vine. Don't be xenophobe; there's no future in it.

McCain 2000: "Uh, I, I just have to rely on the good judgment of the voters not to buy into these negative attack ads. Sooner or later, people are going to figure out if all you run is negative attack ads you don't have much of a vision for the future or you're not ready to articulate it." [The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, 2/21/2000]

This quote seems pretty appropriate right now…

They are going to provoke their avid followers into doing something horrible to Obama.
McCain/Palin are the ones using terrorist tactics to win this election.

Palin saying "i'm scared", "i'm afraid" when refering to barack. inferring that he likes people who wish harm on our country, filing for investigation into his donations.

The terrorist do the same. Make their followers fearful, convince them that we will do harm to their homeland, claiming their targets have friendship and funding from the west.

It seems as though McCain/Palin are trying to incite violence, hatred, and terror to fire up their base.

Who are the real terrorists?
They lost my vote now that they have decided to ignore the issues facing us and focus on smear campaigns.

Paige,
please. I'm guessing you're a page in the McCain campain, right? Listen young one, don't trust them grups you're hanging with. Read a real book written by real investigators and seekers of the truth. Give your mind a chance to grow before it withers on the vine. Don't be xenophobe; there's no future in it.

At the VP debate when Palin asked Biden, "Can I call you Joe?", he should have responded, Sure, but can I call you by your middle name, Weezee?" That would have been a riot!!

I don't want a "War Hero". I want a President.

Obama/Biden 2008

Who is the 'real' Barrack Obama?

Who, for that matter, is the 'real' John McCain?

Please, people... these guys have been running for President for the past two years. Their every sneeze has been examined.

The negative campaigning was bound to happen. It's been happening throughout the primaries and the entire process. You want to bring up guilt by 'association' and think that's totally relevant? Who patriotic? Who's not? OK, but clearly your concerns aren't what's right in front of your face. The Dow has lost almost 20% in the past few weeks. We've lost 750,000 jobs.

I don't care if McCain tried to influence things to help some guy who ripped people off 20 years ago. I don't care if Obama was on some board with some dude who did stupid destructive crap 40 years ago. It's ancient history. What I care about is tomorrow.

Can we please just change the subject and ask the candidates to provide us with their 'plans' for steering the economy back to some semblance of normalacy so people can work and afford homes and that kind of thing?

If this is the story about him being called by his rightful name its hogwash
So what?Thats his name His view is almost communist ,his views are not right for us,or the way we need America to go! period!

I am simply not surprised anymore with what the McCain campaign is going to come up with. Throughout this campaign, they have managed to stoke fears that Obama is muslim (like simply being one is a dangerous thing), link him to all sorts of associations with crooks, sometimes simply on the basis of Obama being in the same room with a person, lie about his tax plan for the middle class, continue to charge that the media is biased (to innoculate their lies). Now they claim Barack Obama is associated with the Weathermen (he was 8 when they were active). Yes, indeed Obama has gone into attack mode as well, but his attacks are based on far more relevant associations like McCain's deep links with Lobbyists (the McCain campaign is both financially supported and staffed by lobbies), McCain's dangerous healthcare plan, his proposal to open up social security for investment decisions (good idea, but also adding considerable risk to people's security net), and McCain's behavior (claiming that the fundamentals of our economy is strong, and then messing up the bailout talks for political gain, his impulsive my-way-or-the-highway approach to problems, his irresponsible selection of Palin), his tactics of dividing the electorate on choices that do not matter to the challenges we are facing today (guns, abortion, gay marriage etc), and his unethical attempts at voter caging across swing states to disqualify democrat votes. So while both campaigns have gone negative, we need to take things into perspective, and understand the difference between mud slinging versus relevant criticism, they are very different things. I have given up trying to convince the hard-core right wingers, and racially prejudiced people, because these are a group that have been completely swayed by their own preconceived notions about a candidate they have not even tried to read up about. This group has been hugely affected John McCain's systemetic strike at the media establishment (so they can say anything they want), to believe only what John McCain is saying, and have been programmed to allow their prejudice to claim that Obama is not experienced enough. Truth is, you can hire experience and you can buy knowledge, but you can never change someone's judgment and the moral compass that guides it. I am hoping that the Independent voters and undecided voters, who tend to be more deliberate, and inquisitive in their considerations would be able to make these distinctions.

Desperate people use desperate tactics, I am done McCain lost my vote. The United States is in enough turmoil we do not need this negative campaining, Scott and Palin should be ashamed of themselves (not very christian like Sarah). Calling people terroists and using Nazi Sheriffs to do your dirty work!!! American people are smarter than you think and we will do whats right on November 4th. YOU BETCHA!WINK!WINK!

By the way I am a republican, working, Hockey Mom!

Abunimah said Obama urged him to "keep up the good work" at the Chicago Tribune- where Abunimah contributed guest columns that were highly critical of Israel. Abunimah serves on the board of the AAAN- a controversial Arab group that mourns the establishment of Israel as a "catastrophe" and supports intense immigration reform- including providing driver's licenses and education to illegal aliens

We are so proud of you Jim.

Obama/Biden '08

Want to see that along with Mr. Dude that Sarah herself is a member of the AIP?

Got to you tube and type in Palin AIP member...listen to what the head guy says about her and so happy that she is a member.

Mud is mud, it's all dirty, but if you hit me first, then be prepared to get hit back.

McCain said he would never fight dirty and because he is losing, he had to bring up stuff that was asked and answered during the primary...where were all of you when those things were reported on already for the last 20 plus months.

Obama/Biden '08

Obama supporters have some pretty nasty things to say as well...nobody blames his campaign...again...Obama propagandists (aka mainstream media) being hypocrites and applying a double standard..

Get real please...after you talked the day before about him "PALLING" around with a known terrorist and then the next day his middle name is shouted out...are you stupid????

After hearing for months the name Sudom Hussein and how much of a terrorist he was, what do you think sticks in some people's empty heads?

It was done for effect to put that fear into the minds of those who can not get past the fact that he is black and would never want him in the white house.

How long before the "N" words gets shouted next?
When Palin said he hung with a known terrorist, listen close because some shouts "kill 'em".

You tell me what that says about caring Americans.

Obama/Biden '08

That sheriff looked startlingly like a stereotyped right wing thug...jackboots and all... Oh hell, the man reminded me of an SS soldier ! Scary imagery isnt it ?

"The whole don't mention his middle name thing is stupid. I have heard countless news reporters comment on Palin's kids names, but Obama's name is off limits."

It's not a question of not mentioning his middle name. It's a question of why someone would use his middle name when they're not using anyone else's middle name.

The motives are pretty transparent.

It's nothing like saying, "Why would anyone give their children such stupid names?" ;-)

It's intentional, and it's all they have left. Bold prediction: more Orwellian nonsense from McCain-Palin for 2 weeks, then a lose-with-dignity strategy to try to restore McCain's legacy in the last weeks of the election.

Only in America can someone bomb the capital, the pentagon, preach hate for the country, fund education for teaching radical behavior to our youth..
well you get the idea...AND have the
distinction of friendship with a person
only a heartbeat away from the presidency. Isnt freedom great, it even
gives us the ability float around in a
dream world. Dont shoot the messenger,
you need to think about consequences.

The whole don't mention his middle name thing is stupid. I have heard countless news reporters comment on Palin's kids names, but Obama's name is off limits. IT IS HIS NAME! If he doesn't like his name then he should have "Changed" it. SInce he didn't change it, he is either incapable of change or he likes it. If he likes it then he should use it!

to the obama clan you stand for the one person that is so dangerous for this country.there is no getting accross to you intellectual morons. you want a socialist that hates white people will tax you to death run our lives with socialized medicine that will run this country into the ground.socialism is the change you can believe in.READ MY LIPS if he wins we will get hit again. tell me who your with and I'll tell you who you are as simple as that. he is dangerous and a liar a smooth talker a deceiver to those who do not see the forest for the trees.

John McCain: American Terrorist

Terrorism is the systematic use of terror.

Terrorism is also a form of psychological warfare.

When John McCain or those who represent him accuse Senator Obama of "palling around with terrorists," the intent is to incite fear and hatred.

McCain is not a man of character. He does not uphold the ideals of this nation. He does not belong in the White House.

The real Obama is the American who is less than 1 month from becoming president.
Amazing how the electoral map is turning his way.

Obama doesn't even know who he is. He doesn't know when he was born. He doesn't know where he was born. He doesn't know what religion he is. He doesn't know who his friends are much less how long he's known them. He doesn't know what happened to his records in Illinois. Tony Rezko is "not" the Tony Rezko I know. He doesn't know Nadhmi Auchi. Rev. Wright is not the Jeremiah Wright I know. Does he know Rashid Khalidi when he speaks about Israel? Look up that guy's bio. Obama does know he and Ayers gave this guy grants in 2001 and 2002. Not 40 years ago but he thinks it's close.

McCain and Palin are the very people who won't allow this country to move forward from hate and racism that still exists in this country today by fanning the flames of hatred and fear. It's downright sad. McCain rather go to the White House with half of the country disliking him, than with honor and respect.

I use to like McCain not as a presidential candidate but as a person. He rather go to the White House with half of the country hating him, than go with honor and respect.

I thought Obama set the tone for the entire campaign when he sent out ads in South Carolina calling Hillary a secretive liar....and what about the ads he's been running lately calling McCain "dishonorable" or trying to scare FL retirees claiming that McCain is going to take away their social security. What about the daily attacks on McCains age from Obama or the daily attacks portraying him as "erratic". I would say he's finally had enough.

Why does the media think that McCain is attacking first when Obama has never stopped attacking?

It's true that McCain gave a speech about the differences of how he and Obama would handle the economy...and about 2 or 3 minutes of it was "Who is Obama?"

I think it's what you choose to cover and how you spin it.

Sadly I think it's working....yellow journalism with Chicago talkinhg points. Obama needs no surrogates he has ya'll.

just a point about the statement Palin's spokesperson gave:

"do not condone" is pretty weak.

USA

we would but Obama wont be president forget it

Hi Ruth.

All of you crazies who practice sleaze politics, pls say out loud, "PRESIDENT OBAMA." Start practicing.

To dear weiji2001(even your name is out of touch).
How much are you being paid for your amazing and dazzling display of erudition and oh so clever fact-bating technique?
You should go to bed--you don't want to miss the spaceship in the morning.TATA

This race is still close and it will be close since we are a nation that is split 50/50 and it is really the way Washington likes it Can't you see them all sitting around having a drink and looking down on us laughing I can.If they wanted to end the war it would be a done thing they knew the shape of things on Wall street they all have money are you going to tell me they don't keep up with it. Hell they have been telling us on tv for a year now .

Of course this is all intentional. They're trying to stir up all the pig-ignorant yahoos and rednecks out there.

Luckily for us, there aren't enough of them any more to tip the election.

Sorry. That should be three times. And all three are useless, empty comments.

Yeah, carpe diem. We heard you. Twice.

Give us the facts, please.

How funny that John Sidney McCain III wants to sling mud. Keating is a whole lot more relevant than Ayers. Ayers is a college professor in Chicago. McCain made out just fine after he and some of his goons made out with some quick cash. His wife is a recovering drug addict. SHe was addicted to prescription drugs. Palins husband was part of that Alaskan seperatist group. So that makes her a terrorist by McCains standard. Much mre so, because she married the man. I doubt that anyone here will change there mind as to who to vote for, so let's end it on this. Make sure to pass the word on to anyone you know that they should go out and vote. No matter who they want to vote for, people need to vote, especially the young voters. We all know they are the ones that will have to pay for any bumps we hit along the road.

The fear and hatred that McCain and Palin are bringing up for Obama by recklessly linking him with a "terrorist" connotation is DANGEROUS.

It's hate-mongering and for a party that says they're "mavericks" in that they bring parties together instead of just going for the Republican base, this will be something that will go beyond polarizing the two groups with intense anger and make it difficult for the next president to preside and quell the division.

If there are people out there who actually BUY what McCain is saying to the fullest, they're putting Obama in danger. Look how surprised McCain is when the guy yells "terrorist!"-- but isn't that EXACTLY the connection they're hoping to make?

McCain and Palin are using fear and hatred to motivate a party to action... and Obama is the terrorist?

Riiight, Hannah.

Suppose you tell us the facts and proof you have to suport your fearmongering.

Yeah 'intelligent' because this person can see through the fancy packaging and shameless promotion by the media to see what Obama stands for.
Yeah there is fear allright because people UNDERSTAND want OBama stands for---not all of us are brainwashed or agog at the thought of the ONE.

Listen for "Obama and Terrorist" to be mentioned in the next couple of days......and watch Karl Rove to say "wow, even I wouldn't go that low"

Obama said it best......"its what you do when your out of ideas and running out of time"

The Palin/McCain ticket should accept responsibility since this is exactly what they want. They want to paint him as terrorist loving and they want to stoke up fear and division.

I agree gatc--an intelligent response indeed.

Who is OBAMA--well he someone who is conected one way or another with
ACORN
AYERS
ALINSKY
WRIGHT etc.and although his campaign tries to diminish the importance of each--it is quite obvious,on the whole the type of people who were in his life--America haters and subversives.What kind of person has this circle of friends,especially when there is not much meat in his resume to balance it out???

Hannah, what vicious attacks against Palin are you talking about.

How plausible are dems complaining about smears?JUst look at how viciously attacked Palin was and is.She is the Governor of a State and you would think she was the anti-christ.....wrong example,Omamaniacs probably worship him.These attacks exemplify the evil, crass, vitriole spewed by the obamaniacs.These beligerent miscreants laugh in the face of decent people.ENOUGH

It's time for the grownups still involved in the McCain campaign to take a deep breath and realize their words have consequences. He may be losing the race and getting desperate but deep down McCain can't possibly be comfortable hearing someone (a presumed supporter no less) shouting that.

Right wing nut jobs might be well to remember people who live in 7 glass houses should not throw stones! McCain is pals with G. Gordan Liddy and publically admired this anti semitic felon for "the work he has done." He was a member of a right wing coalition that was racist and anti semitic. He was endorsed by a Pastor whose insensitive remarks he had to repudiate. And he is the only candidate who was censured by the Senate for poor judgement for his involvement with Charles Keating-a convicted swindler. And let's not forget Palin who is up to her neck in an ethics investigation, is being sued for unethically using personal email to conceal correspondence and who is married to a former member of the Alaskan Secessionist Party. Independent voters have far more brains that McPalin give them credit for, so their goose is cooked.

Is it important for the president and his family to exhibit Christian values in every aspect of their lives? John McCain broke his vows and deserted his crippled first wife. He is an adulterer, and maybe even a coward, for not honoring his vows. His second wife Cindy may be an adulteress as well. They were married in a lavish society wedding one month after McCain’s first marriage was dissolved. John McCain may be an adequate president, but are he, and his wife and family, adequate role models for our children. If John McCain becomes president, will I have to make excuses and explanations, to my son and other children, on the forgiveablity of divorce, the forgiveability of deserting a woman who was brought to the alter and bound in a covenant of love and devotion? John McCain’s behavior cannot be reconciled with any standard of moral fortitude to which I expect to hold my childen. Similarly, if Sarah Palin becomes vice president, will I have to explain to my daughter the acceptability of becoming a teenage mom? It does seem hypocritical all around.

An error in my previous post.

It should read...

"And Cone is NOT running for president"

Why not start with sending the hundreds of reporters that went to Wasilla to Chicago to check things out?
Posted by: Rebecca | Oct 6, 2008 9:02:09 PM

=======================================

Well, Rebecca, how do you feel about McCain's ongoing friendship with Liddy?

If the polls drop a little more, Palin will be dropping the "N-" word "by mistake" soon.

The VPs are supposed to be attack dogs. Biden attacks on the issues. Palin has no issues to attack, so she has to attack character and sound bites.

About time.

And it'd be really nice if the media would drop the Obama pom-poms for a minute and actually investigate his associates and background instead of whitewashing it. Why not start with sending the hundreds of reporters that went to Wasilla to Chicago to check things out?

Well, at least Palin's husband didn't bomb the Pentagon and the Capitol Building like Obama's buddy, William Ayers.
Posted by: Barack | Oct 6, 2008 8:54:59 PM
======================================

Explain why you're okay with the ongoing and current relationship between McCain and G Gordon Liddy:

As Media Matters for America has noted, Liddy served four and a half years in prison in connection with his conviction for his role in the Watergate break-in and the break-in at the office of the psychiatrist of Daniel Ellsberg, the military analyst who leaked the Pentagon Papers. Liddy has acknowledged preparing to kill someone during the Ellsberg break-in "if necessary"; plotting to murder journalist Jack Anderson; plotting with a "gangland figure" to murder Howard Hunt to stop him from cooperating with investigators; plotting to firebomb the Brookings Institution; and plotting to kidnap "leftist guerillas" at the 1972 Republican National Convention -- a plan he outlined to the Nixon administration using terminology borrowed from the Nazis. (The murder, firebombing, and kidnapping plots were never carried out; the break-ins were.) During the 1990s, Liddy reportedly instructed his radio audience on multiple occasions on how to shoot Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents and also reportedly said he had named his shooting targets after Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Liddy has donated $5,000 to McCain's campaigns since 1998, including $1,000 in February 2008. In addition, McCain has appeared on Liddy's radio show during the presidential campaign, including as recently as May. An online video labeled "John McCain On The G. Gordon Liddy Show 11/8/07" includes a discussion between Liddy and McCain, whom Liddy described as an "old friend." During the segment, McCain praised Liddy's "adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great," said he was "proud" of Liddy, and said that "it's always a pleasure for me to come on your program."

Actually, James, I respect that Obama could choose someone like Biden as a VP - someone who disagrees with him and will challenge him. They both have their own minds. anyone with any level of intelligence knows that things are said in primary campaigns... we could go back and find things Mittens said about McCain, etc.

Today?

Democrat HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON has raised more than $8 million for former rival Barack Obama's presidential campaign since July and plans to barnstorm the country for even more cash, as the New York senator works to show she is aggressively helping the candidate who cut short her White House bid. "I am using every tool that I have to help Democrats win," Clinton told USA TODAY. She was between fundraising events in Texas and California that brought in another $1.5 million for Obama and congressional candidates on Friday and Saturday. Later this month, Clinton will headline Obama fundraisers in Chicago, Philadelphia and Little Rock along with 11 events to raise money for Democratic congressional candidates and state parties.

Former President BILL CLINTON revved up a crowd on behalf of Barack Obama in Florida Wednesday, his first since the Democratic convention. And though he repeated his mantra that Democrats don't have to "say one bad word" about their Republican opponents to win the election, Clinton actually snuck in a dig against Sarah Palin. "So he's got a better philosophy. He's got better answers. He's got a better understanding, and better advisers on these complex economic matters. He's got a better vice presidential partner," Clinton said to a crescendo of applause.

Jake, honestly, I hear the name Hussein it does nothing inside of me. No heart jump. No clammy hands. No fearful palpitations. It's a name. Big deal. And I can't imagine it's that big of a deal to voters either.

Maybe because I live in NYC and hear and use foreign names on a daily basis, that the fear of the unknown factor doesn't come into play. My neighbor's name is Abu (from Yemen) and corner grocery store is owned by a guy who goes by the name of Raj but his real name is Muhammad. These are names ... that's it.

Jake asks:
Jump ball for discussion purposes: Are these random events it's unfair to blame on the McCain-Palin campaign, or does the new tone of the McCain-Palin campaign encourage these types of statements?
----

Where do we draw the line, when we decide some "tone" has encouraged outrageous statements?
Did the anti-Iraq war tone of the Democrats encourage Code Pink to show up at various hearings, waving fake-blood colored hands in Condoleeza Rice's face?
What about the hecklers all of the candidates have faced throughout the campaign? Are they encouraged by the rhetoric of the other campaigns?

Well, at least Palin's husband didn't bomb the Pentagon and the Capitol Building like Obama's buddy, William Ayers.

Not just her husband's DUI but his treasonous past.

I ALSO AGREE WITH BILL CLINTON:

It is wrong that Senator Obama got to go through 15 debates trumpeting his superior judgment and how he had been against the war in every year, numerating the years, and never got asked one time, not once, ‘Well, how could you say, that when you said in 2004 you didn’t know how you would have voted on the resolution? You said in 2004 there was no difference between you and George Bush on the war and you took that speech you’re now running on off your website in 2004 and there’s no difference in your voting record and Hillary’s ever since?’ Give me a break. “This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I’ve ever seen.”

"I think that they (Obama) played the race card on me. And we now know, from memos from the campaign and everything that they planned to do it all along."

I ALSO AGREE WITH HILLARY CLINTON:

"I know Senator McCain has a lifetime of experience that he will bring to the White House and Senator Obama has a speech that he gave in 2002."

"More than ever before, our workers will need good job training for the jobs of this new century. But we can't afford on-the-job training for our next president. That could be the costliest job training in history."

"And we don't need Obama’s trillion-dollar tax increase that will hit families already facing higher energy, health care and college costs. What we need is to focus on the real crises of health care and Medicare, and on expanding opportunities for poor, working and middle class families who are struggling now."

I AGREE WITH JOE BIDEN.

As Joe Biden has recently said when asked about BHO

On Obama's appeal: "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean that's a storybook, man."

On Obama's experience: "I think he can be ready, but right now I don't believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training."

On Obama's threat to go into Pakistan after Al Qaeda: "The way to deal with it is not to announce it, it's to do it.... The last thing you want to do is telegraph to the folks in Pakistan that we're about to violate ... their sovereignty."

On Obama's pledge to meet with leaders of rogue nations: "Would I make a blanket commitment to meet unconditionally with the leaders of each of those countries within the first year I was president? Absolutely, positively no."

On Obama's Iraq plan: "My impression is he thinks that if we leave, somehow the Iraqis are going to have an epiphany. I've seen zero evidence of that."

Barack Obama is an American. Just like John McCain. He loves his country and is trying to do the best he can to serve his fellow citizens. What makes him the superior candidate is that he knows he does not need to make you afraid of John McCain to raise his profile. All he has had to do is present his case to the American people. I have no doubt that John McCain loves his country, the problem isn't there, the problem is that he will gladly destroy his country in the name of victory. The President takes an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, not the flag, not a political party,Big business, not any lobby or special interest group. When was the last time John McCai, George Bush or Sarah Palin read the Constitution to do anything more than to see how to get around it? The Constitution is not about fear. John McCain is.

It's about time that the character and the characters of Obama's "friends" are put before the public. He has gotten a free pass so far. Interesting that the "Big Media" shows more interest in her husband's DUI than in Obama's admitted addiction to cocaine.

Mr. Tapper,

The McCain campaign is responsible for the level of fear mongering and lies that they use. We are not fools. This is engineered and the words are chosen with care and emotional impact. That is the Rove way and they are effective.

The problem is that everyone knows these are lies. Everyone. They are used to evoke our worse demons. They are used to evoke fear, hate, and prejudice and yes, the words are used carefully... "pal with terrorists (plural), you are a terrorist. You are a terrorist, then you are a muslim, black and al queda our worse enemy. Bringing together the hate of our enemy with racism is the worse type of evocation. This is done by born again Christians and this is done in front of our children and the world. This speaks of dark spirits worse than the McCarthy era. We need to be careful what we bring forth.

At one rally by Mrs. Pallin, a person yelled "kill him".
At McCain's recent rally, a person yelled "terrorist" (about Obama).
This isn't ambiguous. This is a mean-spirited witches brew being made.

a trillion dollars that could have been used to provide health care coverage for every citizen, put tens of thousands back to work to rebuild New Orleans and our g