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What McCain must do to restore his reputation

An editorial  —  10/14/2008 5:36 am

Poor John McCain.

He let the Bush/Cheney operatives who took over his Republican presidential campaign late in the summer talk him into running a scorched-earth campaign attacking Barack Obama.

But now that the campaign is fully operational, McCain is shocked and unsettled by what he is hearing from his own supporters.

"I don't trust Obama," a woman at a town hall meeting in Minnesota told McCain last week. "I have read about him. He's an Arab."

McCain silenced her and said, "No, ma'am. He's a decent, family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues ..."

The crowd booed the Arizona senator's attempt to quiet the hate speech that has become such a major feature of events at which he and his over-the-top running mate, ethically challenged Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, have appeared in recent days.

When a man in the crowd suggested that he was scared about raising his child in an America led by a President Barack Obama, McCain countered him.

Speaking of Obama, the Republican presidential nominee said: "I have to tell you, he is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States."

That may seem rich coming from the man who has "approved this message" of smearing Obama at every turn.

It certainly did not go over well with his backers.

McCain's description of Obama as "decent" drew loud booing from the crowd that had come to hear trash talking -- not the truth.

"If you want a fight, we will fight," McCain continued, trying to calm his feverish backers. "But we will be respectful. I admire Senator Obama and his accomplishments."

At that, the mob booed even more loudly.

And it became clear that John McCain had failed to calm the beast he had created.

McCain played with fire.

Now he is getting burned.

To undo the damage done by his campaign -- to the electoral process and to his own reputation -- the Republican nominee must take a series of affirmative steps to distance himself from the politics of personal destruction that his campaign has practiced in recent weeks:

1. Stop authorizing deceptive television and radio commercials.

2. Stop making absurd claims about Obama's background.

3. Dismiss all aides and employees who have engaged in deceitful messaging about Obama.

4. Distance himself from organizations -- including state Republican parties -- that have sought to stir racial and ethnic division.

5. Start talking about issues.

That may seem like a lot to ask of a candidate who is locked in an intense presidential race.

But it is not too much to ask of an honorable man.

McCain spoke honorably when he challenged his over-the-top backers in Minnesota.

But he must do more than speak. He must act.

And if he fails to do so, McCain will deserve just defeat but the loss of his once good name in American politics.

An editorial  —  10/14/2008 5:36 am