Posted on 03/20/2008 6:47:45 PM PDT by jdm
John McCain’s campaign got its first opportunity to show how seriously it wants to avoid getting into the identity-politics meltdown in the Democratic primary. The campaign suspended Soren Dayton, a former blogger now working for McCain, for sending the link to a YouTube regarding Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright over a Twitter message:
An aide to John McCain was suspended from the campaign today for blasting out an inflammatory video that raises questions about Barack Obama’s patriotism.
Soren Dayton, who works in McCain’s political department, sent out the YouTube link of “Is Obama Wright?” on twitter at 12:31 today with the tag, “Good video on Obama and Wright.” It has since been taken down. ….
Informed that Dayton was circulating the video, McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said he had been suspended and “reprimanded by campaign leadership.”
“We have been very clear on the type of campaign we intend to run and this staffer acted in violation of our policy,” she said.
I’m conflicted by this. I know Soren, and he’s a pretty good guy. He didn’t create the YouTube, and as I wrote this morning, it doesn’t do anything except show Wright, Obama, and his wife Michelle speaking for themselves.
However, McCain has nothing to gain and a lot to lose by getting involved in this controversy. If he stays out of it, the fight remains between Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and now Geraldine Ferraro. If his campaign starts pushing the video or any of the commentary, it will rope McCain into the debate and give the Democrats an outside target. And why give them that escape route now, just when their party is finally being held accountable for its hypocritical pursuit of ethnic and gender politics?
McCain needs to take some action to show how seriously he wants to remain a disinterested observer in the coming meltdown. That means Soren has to get publicly disciplined, unfortunately. I doubt he’ll be on the sidelines for long. It may not be fair, but … it’s politics.
Nevermind. That's a question that pretty much answers itself.
all McC has to do is keep his mouth SHUT! he is a fool
McQueeg throws another supporter under the train! Nothing new! He is a jerk but he is what is left to the GOP.
It is clear that nothing gets between Juan McAmnesty and his Democrat masters. Nothing.
I'll grant that he is a jerk, but he's not GOP. He's nothing but a Democrat with an 'R' by his name.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Very clever, actually. What I would call practical accismus.
Hey, McPain—how’s the fundraising going?
This is just a preview of the type of president that McCain would be. He would be soft and fold like a tent with the opposition. This isn’t a good thing.
He’s doing it correctly right now. It’s the best for him (and us) to keep his campaign currently out of the Dem civil war. Let them fight it out.
He’s staying out of the snakepit..I believe it is a smart move for now ..Others outside his campaign can keep people informed.
it gets harder and harder to imagine myself pulling the lever for McC
It's entertaining in a way. McCain has been groin kicking his supporters and potential supporters for so long it's a reflex.
Why is this surprising? McCain hates freedom of speech. See McCain-(my good friend)Feingold for details.
Because of this? He is trying to keep out of the hillariously Democrat interfighting. It’s smart for his campaign to let the Dem’s rip each other.
you guys dont get it? as long as mccain doesnt touch this thing at all it takes a life of its own. if he were to advertise it then they can dismiss it as “swift boating”
Let me be the first to predict that old Mr. McQueeg won’t have a single staffer left by the time Nov. rolls around.
McCain also had a fit over somebody using Obama’s middle name. Judging from his recent major fiasco re: al Qaeda where Joe Lieberman had him change his answer, his mind is giving out. He looks and talks as if he is tired. No spark, no charisma.
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