McCain Tries to Tame Flames He Earlier Fanned

[RamboLiberal]

Run time: 01:21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf6YKOkfFsE   Posted on YouTube: October 10, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: October 11, 2008 By DU Member: RamboLiberal Views on DU: 1628

 
Trying to Snuff Out the Flame
At a rally late today in Minnesota, John McCain addressed the heated comments, including calls to violence, coming from some supporters at his rallies this week:

"I am enthusiastic and encouraged by the enthusiasm and I think it's really good," McCain said. "We have to fight and i will fight but we will be respectful. I admire Sen. Obama and his accomplishments and I want to be respectful.
Here's the (updated longer version) video of a portion of McCain's remarks:

Late Update: Ana Marie Cox is on the ground at the rally and reports:

Indeed, just snatched the microphone out the hands of a woman who began her question with, "I'm scared of Barack Obama... he's an Arab terrorist..."

"No, no ma'am," he interrupted. "He's a decent family man with whom I happen to have some disagreements."

Later Update: In the expanded version of the video above, I don't hear any reference to terrorist when the woman calls Obama an Arab.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

[ramapo]

1. Somebody must've read McCain the riot act

The McCain campaign veers off into decency. Who would've thunk it?

[NYC Liberal]

4. Bingo. The Secret Service probably sat him down

and told him he better do something because if something happened to Obama after what's happened at these "rallies"...you can bet there would be hell to pay.

[trotsky]

2. Today was the first day in, gosh, I don't know...

that I haven't been absolutely disgusted with McCain. He actually seemed like a decent, stand-up guy for the first time in years. We are a liberal state up here, but the Republicans we do have are RABID. This is the kind of crap they live for - and McCain shot it down. Of course they're still running those vicious attack ads complete with "I'm John McCain, and I approve this message" tacked on the end so I'm not going to go overboard with praise for this slimy asshole.

[peoli]

3. he better fucking calm these lunatics down!

[Gman]

5. That's the McCain we all (used) to know

that's the McCain that was rumored to have been offered the VP slot with Kerry 4 years ago.

[Number23]

7. Exactly. He shut that lying old hag down

Not only told her "no, ma'am. You're wrong." but took the bloody microphone from her and walked off.

You're right. That's much closer to the McCain we all used to know.

[Hulk]

6. Once he takes the air out of the bag....there is NOTHING left.

Fear and hate is half of his campaign. Should he decide to take that out of the mix, he'll be even lower in the polls because the frightened and hateful will not support him. Of course, they won't support a black man with a name like Obama either, but that's something else.

We truly are a nation of f*cking morons.

[psychopomp]

8. Palin had better stop waving red meat in front of those dogs, too

It is clear that their campaign has gone off the rails. Sarah Palin needs to be brought in line...maybe she can talk about being a hockey mom some more.

[Cronus Protagonist]

9. You know what, I have to give McCain kudos for that

He's not an evil man either and he gained a little respect back for doing and saying that despite his followers disdain. Of course, he lost a quarter of his base now, but at least he gained back some, a teeny bit, of integrity and dignity.

[daughter of liberty2]

10. Wow.

Its no wonder that McCain had to defend Obama at his rally today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itEucdhf4Us

[Oddly Stevenson]

11. Poll numbers

The optimist in me would like to think that McCain realized what he had become and is trying to reclaim his soul.

The pessimist in me thinks that he saw the negative effect on the poll numbers and decided this approach might be more appealing. The Ayers crap has certainly gained no traction anywhere outside of the Fox newsroom. And seeing your supporters yell "terrorist" at rallies certainly isn't going to help you win over the undecided.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. We should be very happy McCain is talking this way.

It is said that McCain is running for president out of a desire to once again serve his country. The best service he can do for America now is to talk about the issues. It's not going to help him win, but nothing else will, either. Some boneheaded mistakes (such as picking a running mate who couldn't pass a high school civics exam), some ridiculously incompetent spokespersons (like Carly Fiorina and the hapless Tucker Bounds) and being overtaken by events that underscore the desirability of changing course from the policies of the Bush Regime and those legislators who supported them have come together and defeated John McCain's last best hope to be president of the United States.

The charges of terrorist and anti-patriot were thrown at Senator Obama in the primaries and dissipated into thin air. No one wants to hear them again.

While I and many others here believe Senator McCain is on the wrong side of almost every issue in this election, it is incumbent upon him now to defend those positions. It is part of the democratic process that he should. Even when the result of an election is a forgone conclusion, as this one has become, the election is a discussion of issues. Let McCain give the conservative point of view a a full airing.

This is a noble road we ask McCain to take. If he takes it now, it will enhance his chances of being remembered as the decent, straight talking maverick many once saw in him. It is no doubt how he would like to be remembered.

[bertman]

18. Well put, Jack Rabbit.

[darius15]

13. Oh please. McCain isn't showing honour. The Secret Service probably told him to cool it. Plus,

the media is taking note of all those ugly things his supporters said, and it would give him very negative press.

[BayjanDem]

14. It's too late

McCain already got the lynchmob ball rolling. The crowds over the last few days have been an embarrassment to Americans. That angry idiot in Milwaukee yesterday was seen all around the globe. And don't even talk about his Palin.

[MarkP]

15. I agree...

McDumbass is now trying to look like a reasonable level headed person...He's the good cop...his minions out there will still be playing bad cop.

Now he's the NICE GUY...but he can't control his followers...the seed has been sown.

Everytime one of these morons speaks up it is broadcast over and over all around the world...

[truebluecollar]

16. Have I become such a fried and twisted Rovian paranoid

as to believe that perhaps the fieldings from the moronic peanut gallery were actually plants for McCain to look pure and noble upon the high road above the fray. Look at us, falling over one another to congratulate the good Senator's better angels. Its bullshit. I don't trust Ol' Deadstick one bit.

[earth mom]

17. I am waiting for Palin to say she was wrong too. But hell will freeze over first. nt