The Ironic Ruthlessness of Obama's Campaign - Letting McCain Completely Destroy His Own Reputation

[Median Democrat]

I was listening to Obama's interview with Charlies Gibson where Obama almost dared McCain to continue focusing on Ayers and Wright. You may ask why did he do this to an emotional candidate like McCain, who is likely to do exactly that? A rationale candidate would back-off, and try to at least make show of focusing on the issues, but not McCain and the GOP who take the shouts of "kill him!" as evidence that their strategy is working. I think the reason is that Obama knows that people who were fans of McCain and knew John McCain's "brand" are horrified and still make excuses about how John McCain does not really want to run the smear campaign he is running. However, as McCain becomes even more extreme in his smears, and as McCain tries hareder to ignore the economy and other relevant issues to focus on smearing Obama, it becomes more difficult to defend McCain.

John McCain spent the past 20 years building a reputation that was largely based on McCain grandstanding and trying to swoop in and take credit for various legislation. Well, the lipstick is off the pig, and John McCain is largely the one to thank. John McCain has done a better job than any Democrat could have done to ruin his own reputation as McCain's campaign devolves into one designed to encourage racism and xenophobia among his base. In effect, in his post recent iteration, John McCain has become Pat Buchanan, but with even less respect among the GOP base. Country First has become Me First.

In short, the ruthlessness of Obama's approach is to encourage and let McCain beat his reputation up and become a pariah to both parties.