Senator McCain can do what's right but will he?

Last week I presented at St. John's in Northfield, MN on the relation of faith and politics in previous presidential elections.  I looked at the fantastic (as in unbelievable) story of overt and covert anti-Catholic organizing against Kennedy in the 1960 election.  I found Randall Balmer's new book, God in the White House, very helpful.  The kind of scare tactics and organizing methods, tracts written and distributed, are an historical echo of the campaign against Senator Obama for his Muslim associations.  

The issue has bubbled near the surface all along, and in these last weeks, with Senator Obama surging in the polls, Senator MaCain has been tempted to let this angle rise to the suface again, even though he knows it is wrong.  It is odd to watch a decent man struggle to win, which seemingly requires stretching the truth beyond recognition.  The new tactic for Senator MaCain's campaign is to use the "terrorist" card, making the implicit connection with the Muslim terrorist threat rooted in the fear gripping our nation since 9/11 and explictly connecting Senator Obama to a (white American) 1960s radical William Ayers. 

So when in McCain/Palin rallys over the past few days people have shouted such things as "off with his head" and "kill him" in reference to Senator Obama,  Senator McCain began to turn back.  When a voter yesterday in a southern Minneapolis/Saint Paul suburb of Lakeville told Senator McCain she could not trust Senator Obama because he is an Arab, Senator McCain replied: “No, ma’am, he’s a decent family man, a citizen, who I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. And that’s what this campaign is all about.” The crowd is reported to have applauded.  Earlier this week in a Wisconsin rally a man told him he was “scared” of an Obama presidency and Senator McCain replied, “I want to be president of the United States and obviously I do not want Senator Obama to be, but I have to tell you — I have to tell you — he is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States.” The crowd booed loudly at Mr. McCain’s response.

Keep pushing back against the fear and race-baiting, Senator McCain.  Fight on the issues.  Diffuse fear by presenting your own confident case and building up your opponent.  Our great nation deserves as much, and you have shown that you believe such action is the honorable path.  Follow your good instincts and we shall all be better for your leadership, whether you win or lose.

Peace,
Chris

Comments

[Andy Rowell]

A similar post today by Will Samson, both of you two in my RSS reader.
A Special Place in Hell
http://willzhead.typepad.com/willzhead/2008/10/a-special-place.html

all the best,
andy

[Gary Moss]

I'm a longtime Obama supporter who also once had a modicum of enthusiasm for John McCain – back in 2000.

As I now see him call for respect of Obama, I see less the duplicitous, dishonest man that McCain has allowed himself to become. Instead, giving him the benefit of the doubt, of course – maybe even seeing him as a pitiable figure who has been unable to control his unquenchable thirst for the presidency – I now see a man who is in full conflict with himself.

On one hand, he wants so badly to be president that he has agreed to any Rovian tactic, including the demonizing of Obama; on the other hand, there is a man who really never wanted to stoop to gutter tactics, a man who, since he is now not gaining by these tactics, now allows his more fair-minded side to prevail.

Either that or he now realizes that these tactics might result in violence, for which he would be seen as responsible and with which he would forever be associated.