Posted on 10/10/2008 11:05:31 PM PDT by SmithL
Republican Sen. John McCain had long promised American voters that he would be the ultimate maverick presidential candidate and run "a respectful campaign."
Americans "don't want us to finger-point and question each other's character and integrity," he told Ohio voters just five months ago.
But that was then - before the economy was in free fall and before his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, had gained ground in key swing states.
And this is now - the Arizona senator's campaign is pounding the drum to raise doubts about Obama's patriotism and what it calls his questionable background, particularly his past relationship with former '60s radical Bill Ayres.
With just three weeks to go until Election Day, McCain's campaign has ramped up expressions of raw Republican anger and frustration as the candidate has battled for traction. Recent rallies starring McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, have aired openly hostile and anti-Obama rhetoric - even cries of "terrorist," "liar," "off with his head" and "kill them," which have gone unchallenged from the stage.
On Friday, McCain found himself in a tricky balancing act - booed by supporters at a Minnesota rally when he urged them to "be respectful" of the Illinois senator, even challenging one woman who said she didn't trust Obama because "he's an Arab."
"No, ma'am," McCain responded. "He's a decent family man, citizen; I just happen to have disagreements with (him) on fundamental issues."
The senator's attempt to contain his supporters' passion at a rally was his first in recent weeks - and comes at a time when political observers have targeted Team McCain's aggressive and increasingly personal attacks on Obama. They say the campaign has walked the line of being risky - and even irresponsible - in aiming to fire up the GOP base...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Pawleeeeeeeeeeez...SF Chronicle...yah we love your opinion
Leave it to the San Francisco paper to get it backwards.
The base is aiming to fire up the campaign.
The GOP is supposed to take advice from the MOST liberal fishwrap in the Nation?
The San FagFreako Comical?????
What???????????
If it’s a fact, it’s not an attack.
McCain is laying out facts about Obama’s past.
Truth hurts!
We know he’s not conservative enough, that’s not what he was booed for.
It’s a good thing when people are riled at the thought of your opponent.
bingo
Too bad the real life ending is likely to be different.
Carla Marinucci knows everything about the GOP. All the inside scoop. What an idiot.
If the Chronicle actually thinks it will influence any Republicans with their propaganda, they’re even more deluded than I thought. They long ago burned off any readers to the right of Jerry Brown.
Nah, it’s because he’s a lousy campaigner.
Fortunately he’s running against the only candidate he could beat (Kucinich excepted).
mccain promised to name names of corrupt politicans, but so far he has refused to
we all know mccain will never change, we’re all voting for him only coz of palin. With palin as vice president, it will put her in a good position to run for president in 2012
I sort of took it that they were booing the thought of Zero being “nice”.
I may have it all wrong but I saw it as a good thing...they utterly refused to accept any attempt to portray him as anything but evil, even if it was half-heartedly coming from Mac.
[IMO, he did *not* say it like he believed it himself...I assume if I picked that up, others did too]
I wonder when they will cover this “lie”
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=S8QcpdUtxNQ&feature=related
The real attack is coming from the media.
Oh, ain't that sweet irony? This is like a rapist blaming the victim for struggling too much.
They've built their candidacy out of spewing hatred non-stop for Bush, Conservatives, Christians, etc. And when we demand McCain respond, we're accused of anger and divisiveness.
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