Columnist Bernie Hayes
Seeing and listening to John McCain and the Republican National Committee the past few weeks, filling the airways with lies, half-truths, scare tactics, and character assassinations, I became quite angry and wondered when Barack Obama would fight back.
Everyone should unmistakably comprehend that McCain is trying to impugn the character of Obama in this year’s presidential race, so I personally intended to ask in this column, “Why doesn’t Obama fight back?”
I was surprised to find that a Google search revealed 1,740,000 websites titled “Obama Fights Back,” with names such as “John McCain is attacking Barack Obama for not visiting wounded troops” and “Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama defended himself and his wife Sunday against suggestions that they are insufficiently patriotic.”
It was unmistakable that when Obama became the Democratic nominee, McCain and the Republican national committee’s research arm began releasing memos highlighting criticism of the Illinois senator and planting seeds of doubt about his integrity, his religion, his character and his public image.
It became obvious that character assassination is an evil, cowardly act. McCain supporters, including Fox News Network and now, in some instances, Katie Couric and CBS News, are extracting parts of Obama’s speeches and putting a twist on them the never intended them to have and cast him in a negative light. The McCain groups and Fox News are experts in character assassination, but Obama is at long last fighting back.
McCain’s vicious personal verbal attacks are intended to destroy or damage Obama’s reputation, because he recognize that Obama , in his campaign, talks of substance, rather than feel-good rhetoric. He speaks of “hope for change” and “change for hope.” Obama understands that character is what defines you as a person.
McCain should understand that leadership is not about being elected or appointed to an office, and being a former prisoner of war does not teach someone how to be a leader. Leadership is an attitude cultivated over time, and his Republican attack machines present him as a man who can look no way but downward. Obama, I am pleased to say, is looking up.
This truth should be kept constantly in mind that McCain is the politician who betrays his trust and untruthfully attacks an honest man. He and his attack machines must understand that an epidemic of indiscriminate assault upon character does no good, but great harm.
We are passing through a period of great social, political, and industrial unrest. The problems that face us today are not what they were when McCain was first elected to public office, but the underlying facts of human nature are the same. McCain can only campaign on lies wrapped in half-truths. Meanwhile, Obama is proposing ways to settle our economic, social, international and political problems.
Gross and reckless assaults on Obama, whether by Fox News, on the stump or in newspaper ads, on TV or on radio, create a morbid and vicious public sentiment. McCain should take the high road and, while traveling around the country, he should attempt to buy himself some character and self-respect. What do you think?
Please listen to my Internet Radio program every weekday on LouRadio.com. I can be reached by fax at (314) 837-3369 or by e-mail at: berhay@swbell.net.
Hotep!