Comments on: Let “That One” Handle McCain’s Comment

By: StockBoySF

StockBoySF — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:33:03 +0000

“For the record, I think John McCain is an honorable man and above the bottom feeding level of politics.” LOL! That's a hoot! McCain hasn't been honorable for a long time now….

By: StockBoySF

StockBoySF — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:32:29 +0000

The use of “that one” to refer to anyone else is beneath anyone who wants to be a leader. It just shows that McCain disdains Obama and does not treat him with the respect Obama has shown for McCain.

I don't think it was racist…

By: mlhradio

mlhradio — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:11:23 +0000

>>McCain's comment seemed dismissive and nasty. Of course, not racist. Just filled with negativity.<<

Agreed - I know that many people have spun "THAT ONE" to be an overtly racist comment, but I don't see it that way. Negative, demeaning, dismissive, belittling, yes. Racist, not so much.

However, the 'negativity' of the comment is probably just as damaging (or more damaging) than any racism charge. It plays more and more into the 'bitter, grumpy old man' meme that has grown around McCain of late.

And no, I don't view it as a 'senior moment', as some commentators have said, either. However, I did wonder if McCain had a 'senior moment' today during a speech when he referred to voters as "my fellow prisoners", and didn't even realize he said it. Reliving the past, maybe?

By: GreenDreams

GreenDreams — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:02:28 +0000

I don't know if it was racist. Doesn't matter. That is not my contention. It was rude, dismissive, defamatory and dare I say it? denigrating. There's no interpretation that justifies his not referring to Obama as Senator Obama, or “my opponent”.

By: NitrogenNick

NitrogenNick — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:40:36 +0000

How utterly ridiculous. McCain's “that one” is as far from racist as Obama's “lipstick on a pig” was sexist. But sensationalizing both lines and paying heed to the noise machines on both sides is probably the media's idea of balanced coverage.

By: Marlowecan

Marlowecan — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:52:31 +0000

Sil, it is not the fact that it seems to be a "senior moment" that is damaging, I think.

After all, look at Reagan. . .the only president to mistake a cabinet secretary for a janitor. Reagan was invariably genial and self-deprecating in his senior moments.

McCain's comment seemed dismissive and nasty. Of course, not racist. Just filled with negativity.

Americans, as history has shown, will happily and eagerly elect a senior citizen.

I don't think they would like electing a bitter, PO-ed person of any age, race or gender to the presidency.

By: Silhouette

Silhouette — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:38:00 +0000

"I don't believe that McCain meant it as a racial slur-- he just momentarily couldn't remember his opponent's name.:)"~ kritt
*******
Not only is that an astute observation, it should be the only talking point dems discuss it with. I remember that McCain was seeming a little addled, rattled and "seniory" last night. When he went to point at Obama I clearly got the impression that he had forgotten his name, just for an instant, and recovered saying "that one".

I think there is one thing McCain's handlers cannot control in their aged/flawed candidate: his senior moments. And he does seem to be having more and more as the campaign wears on. Just the campaign, the itty-bitty prelude to the real McCoy: the next four years of hell and high water.

Team Obama might be well served to show how presidency ages a candidate. Show pictures of before and after photos on just four year terms and how they age presidents. Inject clips of McCain's obvious senior moments. Remind people that at the end of the four years, McCain will be nearing 80 years old in a time when the world would shred a man half his age and twice as fit. Even if McCain was the most qualified man ever to run for presidency (which sadly he is not), we would be fools to put him in the Oval Office this time around.

I've said it before and alluded to it many times: electing McCain falls under the category of a national security blunder from a strategic standpoint. We need our head buck to be spry, flexible and dialed-in this time around. If we don't, our enemies will smell weakness...

By: onleyone

onleyone — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:14:33 +0000

be an awful stretch to label it 'racist'; but imho mccain has forfeit his honor in his attempt to win the white house? mccain 2000 in the general election? quite possibly. this man? he radiates anger and contempt. i don't recognize him.

By: D. E.Rodriguez

D. E.Rodriguez — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:52:30 +0000

kritt11:

either one excuse is bad for a presidential candidate–one just being worse, much worse, than the other

By: kritt11

kritt11 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:14:54 +0000

I don't believe that McCain meant it as a racial slur– he just momentarily couldn't remember his opponent's name.:)

By: GreenDreams

GreenDreams — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:13:14 +0000

I no longer believe McCain is an honorable man. At the very least, he is not behaving honorably.