The sort of campaign in which a supporter can apparently yell, in response to the central question of McCain’s speech today — "who is the real Barack Obama" — "terrorist!" The sort in which a crowd responds to McCain’s portrayal of Obama as an alien outsider with a kind of visceral roar.
Having read the Rolling Stone’s article, Make-Believe Maverick, and watched today’s hate talking express, I’m going to have to revise my previous formulations concerning John McCain. Like many, I’ve been under the misconception that his recent erratic and contemptuous behavior is something new, a change – maybe something coming from being ill-advised. I don’t think that’s right. He has always been this way. We just didn’t know it.
The John McCain of the well researched Rolling Stones article is a lifelong jerk, before and after his captivity in Viet Nam [maybe even during]. The subtitle to the article is "A closer look at the life and career of John McCain reveals a disturbing record of recklessness and dishonesty." There’s too much in the article to summarize. It’s the most scathing bio I’ve ever read of someone running for high office, and it smells of truth. Here’s a list of the subheadings to give one the flavor of the article:
- McCAIN FIRST
- THE NAVY BRAT
- BOTTOM GUN
- TRIAL BY FIRE
- VIOLATING THE CODE
- THE CONFESSION
- A BELLICOSE HAWK
- BOOZE AND PORK
- THE CARPETBAGGER
- THE KEATING FIVE
- FAVORS FOR DONORS
- HE IS HOTHEADED
- NEXT UP, BAGHDAD!
- MR. FLIP-FLOP
And then watching him in action today. We talk of Sarah Palin being unfit for office, but she’s just saying what she’s been told to say – the perky princess of prattle. McCain’s venom is heartfelt – the product of a heart of darkness. John McCain appears to be an angry, womanizing, gambling, boozer with a black hole for a conscience – a chronic brat. We’ve already tried having a brat for President. I didn’t go very well…
What stood out most for me in the Rolling Stone article was how many of his fellow Republican senators, Navy officer peers, and other colleagues had geniune contempt for him. It wasn’t a gang of angry Democrats spouting off about McCain’s character, but rather people he’s worked with closely who know him stating matter of factly about what a jerk this guy is on many levels. I was reading the first section and thought, “WOW! This is unbelievable”, but by the end I was thinking, “Does his ability to be a complete asshole ever END?!?” Well, if the American people can just check the “OBAMA” box then yes, it might just end his spoiled brat reign of egoism. Just maybe.
It is striking how willing his friends and colleagues are to be interviewed about McCain and come clean about his foibles. I suspect that people who know him are genuinely frightened by the prospect of his becoming President.
For good reasons, I might add…