mccain's deal

I find this quote from McCain's interview after the 9/11 commemoration ceremony yesterday interesting:

He also said the campaign's negative tone "would have been very different if Senator Obama had accepted my request to appear in town hall meetings across America."

I do actually believe in John McCain's integrity, despite everything. I think that he does strive, more often than not, to do the right thing. So I'm curious about how he's squaring his conscience with a campaign that even by the standards of previous GOP efforts is showing a disregard for the facts and fair play.

Maybe that's it: McCain feels that he made an offer to raise the tone when he suggested the town hall debates, and that Obama rejected it. Not only that but rejected it dishonestly - signaling a positive response in public whilst having no intention of going along with it whatsoever. After that, McCain decided that his opponent actually doesn't deserve respect. Obama had forfeited his right to be treated fairly. The gloves came off. The lipstick was smeared.

Comments

[Lyle]

What do you mean by saying that Obama rejected the town hall idea "dishonestly"? I recall reading that Obama's campaign had countered McCain's offer of, like, 12 weekly town halls (which, frankly, would have been a bit much) with their own offer of, say, three town halls; then, I thought, McCain's camp never replied to Obama's counter offer, so the idea foundered. What was dishonest about that?

Also, I just love McCain's choice of words: "...if Sen Obama had accepted my request..." How dare the cheeky young upstart Obama decline a request from his august master?! (At the foot of which, of course, the sweet damsel Palin shall learn about national security and foreign policy.) Anyway, McSame's just making excuses. He's allowed the tone and style of his campaign to degenerate as a means to an end, town halls or not, and that end is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

[Claudia Jean]

I have been wondering the same thing about McCain - how is he reconciling his current approach to his campaign with what seemed, in the past, to be a genuine commitment to doing the right thing?

Perhaps it's as Marbury suggested; perhaps Steve Schmidt sat him down and said, "We are going to lose this thing unless we do it my way" and McCain figured he'd rather win. (The Daily Show has a (wildly partisan, obviously) take on McCain's willingness to abandon long-held beliefs for the sake of coming first: http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184113&title=john-mccain-reformed-maverick)

Reading a lot of the reports and blogs yesterday you could sense a genuine feeling of sadness from some of the reporters who used to hold McCain in high esteem. Joe Klein's piece for Time yesterday was one of those (http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/09/apology_not_accepted.html). Apparently, after his failed race in 2000, he apologised to reporters for mistakes he felt he'd made. I do wonder how, in a couple of months' time, McCain will feel about the campaign he's just run.

[Lyle]

Methinks Marbury's scenario is probably spot-on, with McCain playing the role of Faust and Schmidt playing Rove -- I mean, Satan. Metaphorically speaking, of course -- ha ha, she adds half-heartedly.

Thanks for the relevant links. The Daily Show one reminds me to check it more regularly for reliable chuckle opportunities during this...seemingly...endless...interminable...campaign.

[Claudia Jean]

I basically cannot get enough Jon Stewart, Lyle. This one, via Jezebel, on the Republicans' new-found interest in sexism is my current favourite: http://jezebel.com/5045480/the-daily-show-calls-out-republicans-sudden-interest-in-sexism

[Tony]

f*$k! i can't watch full episodes of the daily show on the web anymore! does anyone know when they did that for those of us living on this side of the pond? i sware i watched an episode online a few weeks ago....

[fred]

He said the same thing on his appearance on the View. It feels a bit like the kid in the playground who makes up new rules to a game when he's losing.