Eugene Robinson: McCain Sounds Worse Than He Looks

[babylonsister]

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20081017_mccain_sounds_worse_than_he_looks/

McCain Sounds Worse Than He Looks

Posted on Oct 17, 2008

By Eugene Robinson


Grouchiness, twitchiness and haughtiness didn’t help John McCain in Wednesday’s debate, but what he said hurt him more than how he said it.

Why did polls and focus groups judge Barack Obama the clear winner of all three presidential debates? For one thing, demeanor and body language do count in these made-for-television encounters. In this area there was no contest: Obama came across as gracious and graceful, while McCain seemed angry and awkward. While McCain’s relentless attacks may have fired up the Republican base, they couldn’t have pleased independents who just wish all the politicians in Washington would stop their constant bickering and get to work.

But I think McCain lost ground in the debates mainly because of his threadbare ideas and solutions. People didn’t hear John McCain the brave iconoclast; they heard John McCain the doctrinaire conservative Republican, circa 1964.

snip//

The ugliest moment, by far, came when McCain lit into Obama for voting against a ban on so-called “partial-birth” abortions because it did not specify an exception for cases in which the woman’s life or health was endangered. McCain’s voice oozed sarcasm as he gestured with his fingers to put air quotes around the word health, as if it were nothing but a dodge employed by bloodthirsty baby-killers. I found it chilling, and I’ll bet a lot of pro-choice independents did, too.

McCain’s words hurt him more than his scowls. It’s not just the man that people have qualms about, it’s what he stands for.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

1. I don't see how even PUMA diehards can support McCain now

after he disparaged Obama for considering the life of the mother a factor in the abortion issue. And I think McCain showed that he's an extremist on that issue, more extreme than many Republicans.

[orestes]

2. Not so sure on the "more extreme" part

Unless I'm mistaken, what McCain stated is the current Republican Party platform.

[DesertFlower]

3. i agree.

he is in no way a moderate -- he's far right.

[last1standing]

4. Those extremely few people who are real PUMAs and not repub operatives just hate Obama.

It's personal to them either because he's black, he beat a woman, or both. If you go to their sites you'll see nothing but a seething hatred of all that is Obama. They don't care about issues (Obama is on the right side but they just don't believe he'll follow through), they don't care about integrity (Every mcRacist/phailin' scandal is overblown but every rumor about Obama is solid fact), and they don't care about the Supreme Court (they refuse to even mention that at least 2 and possibly 4 liberal justices will be retiring within the next president's term). They only care about defeating Obama - there is nothing else in their heads or their hearts.

I really find it sad because there are so many over on these sites who were once (or are still) active members of DU. They used to care about the issues and the future of our country but now it's just pure hatred. There are so many there we all used to joke with or commiserate with who now seek to destroy everything we believe in. It truly is hard to understand on a logical level.

[Jim Lane]

9. Question about the PUMAs

I've looked in there once or twice, but not lately. I actually find that Free Republic disgusts me less than the PUMAs do, which is really saying something. Thanks for bringing a report to those of us whose stomachs aren't as tough as yours.

Do you have any guess as to what will happen after an Obama win? Will they remember that they're Democrats, and gradually, however grudgingly, return to the fold, or will they spend four or eight years just hating Obama?

[last1standing]

10. I think they'll return to the fold, eventually.

Their only bonds are their hatred of Obama and their delusional desire to see Hillary installed as president in 2012. When Obama is elected and they finally realize there is no chance of Hillary running against him in the next election they will stew for awhile but eventually put their PUMA days behind them and pretend they were never a part of it.

I even expect to see several of them come crawling back here where I'm sure they'll be readmitted once they promise to never act so disruptively again. I just hope they don't let the obvious racists like Tellurian and BenDavid back in. There is no acceptable excuse for their racial hatred.

[Jim Lane]

11. Thanks for your response. I hope you're right. (n/t)

[Overseas]

5. I like Eugene's take on things. The sneering at women's "health" exceptions

sent a chill down my spine too. Many women felt that, and I'm glad.

In his last debate, McHate definitely reinforced his lurch to the hard right.

After John Lewis' warning, he moderated his behavior for one day at that rally, calming the lady down by saying Obama was a decent family man.

But then I guess Steve Schmidt got to him and told him he had to hang with the hateful tactics for a few more weeks if he wanted any chance of winning.

So instead of accepting the warning of the elder statesman, Congressman Lewis, he decided to trash him on national television. PRETENDING Lewis had linked him with Wallace policies, rather than with the dangerous moods Wallace's hateful language whipped up at his rallies. What a revolting approach McHate took. I was just a kid during those times, but I remember seeing the frighteningly hateful faces at the Wallace rallies. It was scary.

But McHate threw out all moderation and mavericky qualities he may once have had with his debate performance, trawling for the lunatic fringe vote.

[Supersedeas]

6. the 'air quotes' around a woman "health" -- a salient moment of exposure for Mcsogyny

[babylonsister]

8. 'Mcsogyny' - I love that!

:thumbsup:

[AlCzervik]

7. i agree, the health of the mother thing was just an awful moment and incredibly off putting

for many people, i got a couple of phone calls the next day specifically about that.

[morillon]

12. Every woman I know picked up on that immediately.

That was the first thing my mom and my sister mentioned after the debate. The sneering about the mother's health was just way over the top. I can't imagine any woman other than brainwashed Palin types being able to vote for him after that. I mean, what woman wants a bitter, stupid jackoff like that determining ANYTHING about her life, particularly a life-or-death matter like a pregnancy gone horrifyingly wrong?