McCain's Choice: Lose The Election or Lose His Honor

[lame54]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_09/014648.php

UNFIT.... John McCain was presented with a choice: lose the election or lose his honor. As has become painfully clear, McCain chose the latter.

It's oddly reassuring to see others reach the same conclusion. Josh Marshall:

All politicians stretch the truth, massage it into the best fit with their message. But, let's face it, John McCain is running a campaign almost entirely based on straight up lies. Not just exaggerations or half truths but the sort of straight up, up-is-down mind-blowers we've become so accustomed to from the current occupants of the White House. And today McCain comes out with this rancid, race-baiting ad based on another lie.... There's clearly no level of sleaze this guy won't stoop to to win this election.

And let's be frank. He might win it.... But what is already apparent is that John McCain is running the sleaziest, most dishonest and race-baiting campaign of our lifetimes. So let's stopped being shocked and awed by every new example of it. It is undignified. What can we do? We've got a dangerously reckless contender for the presidency and a vice presidential candidate who distinguished herself by abuse of office even on the comparatively small political stage of Alaska. They've both embraced a level of dishonesty that disqualifies them for high office. Democrats owe it to the country to make clear who these people are. No apologies or excuses.

Andrew Sullivan:

On core moral issues, where this man knew what the right thing was, and had to pick between good and evil, he chose evil. <...>

McCain has demonstrated in the last two months that he does not have the character to be president of the United States. And that is why it is more important than ever to ensure that Barack Obama is the next president. The alternative is now unthinkable. And McCain -- no one else -- has proved it.

Joe Klein:

Back in 2000, after John McCain lost his mostly honorable campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, he went about apologizing to journalists--including me--for his most obvious mis-step: his support for keeping the confederate flag on the state house.

Now he is responsible for one of the sleaziest ads I've ever seen in presidential politics.... I just can't wait for the moment when John McCain -- contrite and suddenly honorable again in victory or defeat -- talks about how things got a little out of control in the passion of the moment. Talk about putting lipstick on a pig.

[radfringe]

1. that may be mccain's view

HOWEVER the way he's running his campaign, in my view - he's already lost his honor. He sold it to the bushies and rove months ago

[melody]

2. That's exactly what I was going to say

His "honor" (if it ever actually existed) is toast.

[dhpgetsit]

3. What ever happened to honesty?

I think most Americans would agree that honesty and honor walk hand in hand. The main stream meadia needs to point out the dishonesty of these ads and point out the dishonor they bring to the people who endorse them.