ROGER EBERT: Guess who's not coming to dinner?

[BigBearJohn]

Guess who's not coming to dinner

by Roger Ebert

I do not like you, John McCain. My feeling has nothing to do with issues. It has to do with common courtesy. During the debate, you refused to look Barack Obama in the eye. Indeed, you refused to look at him at all. Even when the two of you shook hands at the start, you used your eyes only to locate his hand, and then gazed past him as you shook it.

Obama is my guy. If you are rude to him, you are rude to me. If you came to dinner at my house and refused to look at or speak with one of my guests, that would be bad manners and I would be offended. Same thing if I went to your house. During the debate, you were America's guest.

What was your problem? Do you hold this man in such contempt that you cannot bear to gaze upon him? Will you not even speak to him directly?
Do you think he doesn't have the right to be running for President?
Were you angry because after you said you wouldn't attend the debate, he said a President should be able to concern himself with two things at the same time? He was right. The proof is, you were there. Were you angry with him because he called your bluff?

During the debate, Jim Lehrer repeatedly called upon both candidates to speak directly to each other. Obama looked at you. He addressed you as "John," which as a fellow senator is his privilege. His body language was open. You stared straight ahead, or at Lehrer, or into space. Your jaw was clinched. You had a tight little smile, or a grimace, or a little shake of your head.

You made a TV commercial showing the moments Obama agreed with you.
Everybody knows he did. Did his agreement show honesty, or weakness?
It is significant that you said it proved he was not ready to lead.
What is the better leadership quality: (1) Willingness to listen to your opponent, and keep an open mind? (2) Rigidly ignoring him? Which of the two of you better demonstrated the bipartisan spirit you say you represent? Was there anything he said that you agreed with? Could you have brought yourself to say so?

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080928/COMMENTARY/809289997&template=printart

[FrenchieCat]

1. Kick ass editorial......

John McCain is a very small man, in too many ways to enumerate.

[BigBearJohn]

2. Yep. He said it much better than I can (or did).

[mucifer]

3. Well written article. It's interesting. The title implies racism. But, Ebert otherwise

doesn't use those words.

[PretzelWarrior]

4. I believe McCain is dog whistling to his racist followers

for those white supremacists who think some uppity N***** shouldn't dare to run for president, McCain's loathing manner makes perfect sense. I want McCain to get his ass handed to him by Obama and then for him to quietly go off into the sunset with his twin, Bush. Maybe they can avoid extradition by moving to Bush's ranch in Argentina.

[saltpoint]

5. Ebert gets it. He gets film and he gets popular culture in his

country.

And he's a damn good writer.