Legal Commentary

McCain Asks Base For Respectful Ferocity

By TChris

Republican anger is the story of the day.

Video interviews by confrontational Barack Obama supporters at John McCain rallies are shooting up the YouTube charts, revealing angry and nasty anti-Obama sentiment that is in turn motivational for the Democratic presidential contender’s supporters.

Besieged by unflattering stories about Sarah Palin pumping up angry crowds who shout "traitor" and "liar" and worse, as well as criticism of his own attempt to paint Barack Obama as "the other," even referring to him in the last town hall as "that one," John McCain finally corrected a questioner who called Obama an Arab:

[more ...]

"He's a decent family man that I happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues," McCain said, to scant approval. In fact, the most rousing applause of the afternoon was saved not for McCain, but for a man who begged him to "fight" in next week’s debate.

McCain also said Obama is "a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States," to the audience's "audible disapproval." That's not what hard core Republicans want to hear. They want to believe their fantasies. They want to have their fires stoked. They want to oppose the evil "other." If McCain disappoints them with language that should be replayed in endless Obama ads, what does he have left?

McCain doesn't want to be held responsible for the offensive thoughts he's trying to fuel, but he needs to keep the anger alive.

"I don't mean that has to reduce your ferocity," he said. "I just mean to say you have to be respectful."

Translation: Think it, don't say it. But stay angry. Get your friends angry. We need your ferocious anger. It's all we have.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on October 10, 2008 (boomark / email).