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Class Act
Posted by PETE ABEL in Uncategorized.
Feb 26th, 2008 | 16 responses
Feb 26th, 2008 | 16 responses
Though I’m still undecided about my general election vote, I am (indisputably) a John McCain fan. Accordingly, I am perhaps too quick to jump to the “class act” conclusion, like Andrew Sullivan did, after reading this news report. But if that’s the case, so be it. Hence, another reason why I’m looking forward to an Obama-McCain contest, because I suspect those campaigns would be the two most replete with grace and respect, with debates that focus on issues of substance rather than petty sniping.
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16 Responses to “Class Act”
I agree that he is a Class Act for his civil leadership.
Although I support Obama and hope for 60 Democratic Senators, it may be that McCain and 55 Democrats can get a lot accomplished as well.
Very classy indeed.
“I suspect those campaigns would be the two most replete with grace and respect, with debates that focus on issues of substance rather than petty sniping.”
Lol, well I agree that particular matchup would have the best chance of such a campaign, in reality I think you are likely to have to eat those words if it gets close. Man I am really cynical today.
It's certainly the right approach morally and probably practically. Unless things change, people who don't agree with Obama think he's a good guy. Even when we know our little brother is completely in the wrong, we don't like to see people beat him up. More and more people even want to leave Britney alone at this point. Ideally, the McCain campaign should win by convincing people that his policy ideas are better ones. But politics is always personal, so on that side of things, his campaign has to find a way to corner Obama into 'that nice guy who's just not ready'. We love our brother, but we aren't going to give him power of attorney over the family finances. Such a tactic is going to be quite hard, however, as Obama's too dang smart and looks smart. McCain's also going to have to accomplish all this without trying to make Obama's independent supporters feel maligned. That's become a very common reaction to many of Clinton's attacks on Obama.
In short, McCain's campaign has to do what they can to keep Obama from looking Presidential.
McCain did the smart thing. Sure, it was the class thing too, but we'll get an opportunity to see how well that class act is sustained during the period leading up to the election. Fact is, we know there are no shortage of surrogates who are willing to play bad cop and plant the seeds for those who are motivated by negative pandering… and they will no doubt be condemned (out of one side of the mouth) by those who they are running interference for. Sorry if that sounds cynical, but I still have very clear memories of the last two elections to inform that cynicism.
How often will he be apologizing, though? The current Republican party and their friends are full of people like this. This guy isn't any different than Rush, Hannity and crew. I think this kind of incident will happen a lot.
Rush has already chimed in. He approves of Cunningham.
I am interested in seeing if Obama apologizes for Moveon.org and other aggressive progressive groups. Hopefully he follows McCains lead.
Why should Obama apologize for MoveOn.org?
NRO – Obama's Political Origins
It was, of course, an explicit tactic of the Communist party to stir up discontent among American blacks, with an eye toward using them as the leading edge of the revolution. To be sure, there was much to be discontented about, for black Americans, prior to the civil-rights revolution. To their credit, of course, most black Americans didn't buy the commie line — and showed more faith in the possibilities of democratic change than in radical politics, and the results on display in Moscow.
Time for some investigative journalism about the Obama family's background, now that his chances of being president have increased so much.
Yeah, I am looking forward to that class act…
It'll end with a “Barrack, call me” and chorus of “N*gger, n*gger, n*gger” and another great Republican President.
Lol that guy who wrote in to Rush bragging about how we whupped Englands ass. Didn't mention that we needed the French, won by the narrowest of margins, and also had an ocean between them and us. Also in 1812 the British burned the capitol. Don't you just love tough guy talk from idiots.
Its the political “warriors” of the GOP thats landed it in the place they are now. Some people just don't get it.
BBQ, perhaps I missed it but are you aware of a time when someone from moveon.org opened a rally for Obama by doing anything the equivalent of what Cunningham did? Of course not. It's a BS statement that has nothing to do with the real world, much less this incident.
The Intermittent Grace and Chivalry of John McCain, Intermittent ‘Class Act’
By Damozel | At The Moderate Voice, Pete Abel says, I presume with a straight face,Though I’m still undecided about my general election vote, I am (indisputably) a John McCain fan. Accordingly, I am perhaps too quick to jump to the “class act” co…
Who cares what Rush Limbaugh thinks?
McCain won the Republican nomination despite Limbaugh's attacks on him. Most Republicans don't care what Rush Limbaugh thinks.
But, of course, all you need to think he's influential is a radio. It's not like you have to go out and do any reporting.
Thanks for the last 20 years, MSM!!
Yes, McCain's statement was a class act, and I'm glad that his disavowal of prior klnowledge as to what Cunningham might say is being accepted at face value.
I'm resentful, though, that an equal respect for candidate's statements is not accorded to other candidates. I can't imagine a situation where a simple statement by Hillary, or even Obama, would be accepted with such generosity of spirit.
The uneven treatment of candidates skews the entire arena of political disussions..
George Sorwell
Most people don't care what Rush thinks- but he does have the largest audience in talk radio, with Hannity second. His weekly audience hovers around 10 million. Assuming most of his listeners vote, this constitutes a considerable force in political affairs.
Oh, Pete. McCain has frequently been anything BUT classy in his political commentary, including very recently. I like him too and you make the case for him better than anyone I know….but I think McCain is better served if people accept him for the loose cannon that he actually really is. He has a really marked tendency to crack jokes he should never, never make and this sporadic 'classiness' just doesn't hold.
It's so easy—almost too easy—to say, “No, he's actually NOT all that graceful or gracious.” I like him anyway, but I don't see chivalry as a reliable McCain trait. He's much more prone than the other two to say things he shouldn't. I like him for it, but I recognize it as a potential drawback for a potential Chief Executive. Doesn't mean he isn't qualified, just that this is a McCain trait.
Why can't we just love him for being blunt, occasionally inclined to blurt, and strongly inclined to make horrendously bad jokes when he sees his opening? I mean, LOOK AT SARKOZY and what he gets away with. The French don't need to glorify political figures because they're French. The English don't; those so disposed have the monarchy for that.
We already have Obama nearly beatified, which is going to last right up to the point when certain facts about him start being raised. He'll then, I have no doubt, be vilified for failing to be the saint people took him for. At the same time, Hillary—whose flaws are well known or speculated upon—is vilified for them.
I don't mind your praising McCain for being gracious in this situation, but it's going way too far to paint him as likely to be 'replete with grace' etc. He so often is not. Let McCain be McCain, I say!