McCain is going down in flames, quickly.
His debate performance was perhaps the most patronizing appeal to place a candidate at the nation’s head that we’ve witnessed.
His condescending attitude was seen in his overly familiar, disingenuous, and repeated use of “my friends,” coupled to his smug disregard of his opponent with a rude point and uttering of “that one.” All were “friends” except for the one who was easily dismissed, as though he wasn’t in the room, a non-human.
His label may well have revealed McCain’s unconscious racism, but at the very least it showed that McCain has become a very poor sport. The pressure is getting to him and he’s loosing his cool.
Though the McCain campaign continues trying to “turn the page” by ignoring the most pressing issue and employing Atwater-Rove tactics, it isn’t working. The country has had enough.
It backfired on Hillary. It is backfiring with McCain.
Let’s hope Mr. McCain can regain composure and dignity by November, but it is probably too late.
It is painful to see a man of heroic accomplishments disintegrate in the fires of “race-baiting and xenophobia,” all for fear of personal failure.
The New York Times editors said it best: Politics of Attack.
As an addendum to the debate, I award the winner’s medal to the displaced peoples of the Sudan and the Congo, and to those who have died. For more on the ongoing humanitarian crises in these regions:
Mia Farrow’s Humanitarian and Advocacy Information.
Ripples of Genocide: Journey Through the Eastern Congo.
I will update with more resources in the not too distant future.
Nicholas Kristof at the Times writes extensively on international human rights issues. You can find his Times blog here.
