Anyway – thanks for leaving your thoughts. I do disagree – I think that the fact that Williams hasn't done anything that we know of to alter this image of him, that in itself says something, and something big. To me and to some others, anyway. I agree about not judging a person per se but this isn't about Williams – this is about McCain and his acceptance of this persons's assistance. These actions DO say something about each of us -not only politicians.

Anyway – thanks for leaving your thoughts. I do disagree – I think that the fact that Williams hasn't done anything that we know of to alter this image of him, that in itself says something, and something big. To me and to some others, anyway. I agree about not judging a person per se but this isn't about Williams – this is about McCain and his acceptance of this persons's assistance. These actions DO say something about each of us -not only politicians.

It's not the tactic I'd use to try to win over Clinton supporters.

It's not the tactic I'd use to try to win over Clinton supporters.

Although I knew about Williams and his incident before reading your post, I don't know much more about him other than that which you mentioned, so I won't make any claims as to the type of person he is or what he believes.

Still, I just can't justify making the same leap you did, at least, not based on that information alone.

With respect to McCain's defense of Williams, politics is politics, and fairness and logic don't necessarily play into it. McCain could just be waiting to see the direction public opinion takes before deciding on a course of action.

But I'll freely admit to pretty much being a political idiot. That's why I usually adhere to the adage that “it's better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt,” as I have a tendency to incriminate myself.

I'm not going to try and tell you that words don't matter, but should we really fly off the handle every time someone makes an off-color remark? Is a single statement by someone really enough to be able to form an “informed” opinion regarding their inner beliefs and core values?

Were Williams' remark part of a whole pattern or trend of misogynistic remarks/behavior, I might be inclined to agree with you, but, until you can show that – and not that he's guilty of exercising horrible judgment in which dirty joke to tell at one thus-far-isolated point in his life – I have to say that I find your self-righteous attitude more than a little unfounded.

I'm not going to try and tell you that words don't matter, but should we really fly off the handle every time someone makes an off-color remark? Is a single statement by someone really enough to be able to form an “informed” opinion regarding their inner beliefs and core values?

Were Williams' remark part of a whole pattern or trend of misogynistic remarks/behavior, I might be inclined to agree with you, but, until you can show that – and not that he's guilty of exercising horrible judgment in which dirty joke to tell at one thus-far-isolated point in his life – I have to say that I find your self-righteous attitude more than a little unfounded.

As for thoroughly vetting, this case isn't the one where you want to make that argument. In Texas political and fundraising circles, this individual and this incident are widely known. Not to mention the sums of money involved.

However, as I wrote on my blog earlier today, the point is this: people can proffer money to any candidate they want. The candidate gets to choose the rules by which they're going to accept the money. Obama has been very clear about certain funding streams from which he just won't accept. When we're talking about the potential president of the United States, it's hard to make the argument that we shouldn't care how $300,000 was raised to support him or her.

“OK, I know that being a guy and all my opinions on such matters don't count, but for freaking sake, do we really want to do this? Yes, the Republican Noise Machine has perfected the tactic of You Are Who Your Worst Supporter Is, but do we really want to wallow in that gutter with them?

It was a stupid, offensive, insensitive remark made eighteen years ago. People will vote in this election who weren't born when Williams said what he said. Do we really want to create a political world in which mere words have the effect of permanently exiling a person from participation in public life?”

It took me a nanosecond to say, “yes.”

Really? Like McCain has a choice on what to do with the money? I think it's a no-brainer and as was suggested, McCain shoudl donate all $300k (or however much) to an organization to combat rape (or abuse) in our society.