October 8, 2008
As Senator McCain’s poll numbers continue to go south, his campaign has given Sarah Palin free reign to snarl like a rabid pit bull. No issue with that, it is the typical role of the Vice Presidential candidate, but in this case it reminds me Don Corleone using Luca Braci to do his dirty work. If we recall - Luca Braci’s dirty work was often “wet” - a euphemism for murder. Attacking Senator Obama on the issues is fair game, but by allowing Gov Palin to raise fears, arouse hatred, and doubts about Senator Obama’s patriotism, Senator McCain is playing with fire.
By labeling Senator Obama as a dangerous radical with terrorist associations, Gov Palin is creating an inflammatory atmosphere. At recent McCain/Palin rallies, the name of Senator Obama has evoked cries of “traitors” shouts of “kill him” and "off with his head!” These all give pause.
As Senator McCain’s poll numbers continue to go south, his campaign has given Sarah Palin free reign to snarl like a rabid pit bull. No issue with that, it is the typical role of the Vice Presidential candidate, but in this case it reminds me Don Corleone using Luca Braci to do his dirty work. If we recall - Luca Braci’s dirty work was often “wet” - a euphemism for murder. Attacking Senator Obama on the issues is fair game, but by allowing Gov Palin to raise fears, arouse hatred, and doubts about Senator Obama’s patriotism, Senator McCain is playing with fire.
By labeling Senator Obama as a dangerous radical with terrorist associations, Gov Palin is creating an inflammatory atmosphere. At recent McCain/Palin rallies, the name of Senator Obama has evoked cries of “traitors” shouts of “kill him” and "off with his head!” These all give pause.
As a youth I recall reading the Allen Drury novels in which character assasinations often were an ugly precursor to real ones. Let’s be real clear, there are many who see a black man with a Muslim sounding name becoming President of the United States as a clear and present danger to all that America stands for. Adding a so-called terrorist link to his resume becomes for them a - game changer.
I remember 1968 all too well, as the noxious mix of anti war, civil rights, and the changing of the guard spurred on the violent deaths of change agents Dr. Martin Luther King, and Senator Robert Kennedy. In these final days of this election Gov Palin is stirring crowds with her demagoguery and fear peddling, and in doing so, she is putting a target squarely on the back of Senator Barack Obama.
Gov Palin’s incendiary remarks, implying that Senator Obama is an enemy of the state, while preaching to the right wing choir, may also be serving as an inspiration to those who feel they need to preserve the constitution from an radical, and anti American usurper whose hidden agenda is nefarious, "dangerous" and “risky”.
Senator McCain, there is still time to make your case to the American people in a manner that honors you, and the office that you have long sought. But if you refuse to turn down the volume and allow your lust to become President to become the catalyst for an unthinkable tragedy, both the tragedy and the violent aftermath will be on your hands. The choice is yours. Put America first.
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