McCain dials down his crowd
 

Good for him. I've watched the second half of this clip, where he actually takes the mic from the old lady, a few times.

The media's take on these events is pathetic, such as MSNBC's caption ("...forced to defend Obama..."), because they have to go a long way to write a negative narrative on this. You'll be immune if you watch the clip. Politico, which is usually pretty good, uses the headline "Crowd boos after McCain says Obama not 'an Arab'". Listen for the boos at the end of this clip after he says it. You won't hear a single one.

what scares me is the thought that their rhetoric may have gone too far already
(like the 'kill him!' Palin supporter)
and this might be out of their control.
i just hope they dont end up creating a mob

It will be interesting to see if Palin remains the junk yard dog, while McCain becomes the voice of reason, placating the people that are turned off by her rhetoric. :confused:

by the way
when the caption isn't in the way
the guy who's head is under the 'rea' of breaking news
shakes his head no when McCain says that Obama's a decent person...

It is worrisome that not only did McCain / Palin not stop the hate before it became public and a liability to their campaign, but the rest of the crowd didn't stop them, either. Would you have sat by and said nothing to someone who yelled,"kill him"?

A few weeks ago Sarah Palin showed up in the middle of Philly to greet her supports at the Irish Pub. A spontaneous anti-Palin rally formed outside the place.

Until a few days ago, I worked with a guy who lives right above the Irish Pub. And he was there at this rally. You afraid of McCain supporters? Republicans don't mob. This group was a mob. They talked as violent as they wanted. It was not reported in any media.

The McCain campaign has a problem. Extremists embedded in his campaign want to go nasty. McCain does not. You see this contradiction in his latest speeches where he is trying to dial back the hate and nasty attacks that his campaign staff has been pushing for.

McCain is not an extremist which puts him at conflict with many in his campaign. That makes it more difficult to rally the troops.

I may be naive, but I think what McCain said was classy. I'm not looking at it as some kind of intricate political move: I think he was just saying, simply no, Obama is not a bad man, Obama is not an Arab...I'd be a better president, but Obama is not a force of evil.

I have a lot of respect for McCain. I think Obama would be a better president for me, but I do respect McCain. I don't really respect Palin; she reaps what she sows.

Sheesh! I've had a drink or two there.

I have a lawyer friend who meets me there for a kip after work, when I'm in town.

Phila is heavily Democrat so this doesn't surprise me too much.

You're technically right. I heard them booing as he said it. Check out 1:04-1:09 minutes into the clip.

I thought it was a decent thing to do. I'd give him even more credit if he hadn't wound them up in the first place.

As for Palin, it's hard to tell how much is her own views and how much is her being the designated attack dog (pig?) for the campaign, which is the traditional job of the running mate. Still, compare Biden's attacks with hers and decide which are more on point.

Still, Palin is one tough lady. She is going to rule her cell block.;)

:lol2: You think she is going to jail?!?! :lol2:

Probably not, hence the smiley. Possibly a censure.

A) That is not as he corrected the woman about Arab. That's the following clip.

B) If one is the sense the entire crowd reaction to THIS statement, it's about three times as positive as the first reaction is negative. Of course you can just take the five seconds you like out of time, and advance that as the critical narrative. But that's very obviously bullshit.

The schizophrenic nature of McCain's campaign continues. Whereas McCain apparently wants to run as a moderate, many in his campaign want to promote and incite the rhetoric of extremists. This is not the same well run Republican campaign that elected George Jr . A problem apparently created because John McCain was never a supporter and often a critic of those extremist elements that are now working to get him elected.

From ABC New of 11 Oct 2008:

UT I respect you enormously. And I know we don't share political ideals, but you are so rational it's never been something that has made me question your posts. But the above? A little broadly painted perhaps.