The election has boiled down to this, in my opinion: Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (F.U.D.) versus Hope.
The McCain/Palin campaign and right wingers sling the F.U.D. better than anyone. Remember, when you go to the polls next Tuesday that Barack is: black, an Arab, a Muslim, a terrorist, a friend of terrorists, a communist, a socialist, not born in the U.S., a man of the streets, a druggy, a womanizer, Osama, a thug, naive, anti-Israel, the anti-christ, satan, foreign, an unknown, a racist, uppity, an elitist, not patriotic, anti-American, and a liberal. (I’ll spare the racist slurs.) And don’t forget, he’s going to re-write the Constitution, raise your taxes and redistribute wealth.
Contrast that with this:
Now I agree Obama is not perfect and he will be hard pressed to make most of his plans happen, but what does McCain offer that gives you hope for the future? Not much that I’ve seen. It’s almost entirely status quo – from economic policies to Iraq. I constantly ask McCain supporters (the few I do know) what does he offer you?, what excites you about him? I never really get any solid answers to those questions.
When it comes down to it, it’s the same as we’ve seen for the last 8 years (and all the Republican years of my life time.) Pro-corporate, pro-rich, pro-profits, trickle down, pro-war, faux compassionate, faux small government, fear mongering, divisive, vote supressing, huge deficit running, national debt growing B.S that is the Republican brand. And it has to end. It has destroyed the middle class, caused the current financial crisis, ruined our standing in the world, and it had it’s chance… and it doesn’t work. Time to move on to something progressive.
Country First, McCain? Please. More like Wealthy First, Evangelicals First, Identity Politics First, F.U.D. First. You were an honorable man, but the campaign you’ve run is shameful and goes against everything you used to stand for… remember what Bush did to you in 2000? Fast forward 8 years and you are Bush – in more ways than one, Mr. 90%.
I’m just glad Obama has stayed above the mud slinging. That alone shows the character I want in my President.
Vote Obama. But more importantly, vote!
Update: And consider this, from Talking Points Memo:
Obama can go on TV for 30 minutes and not mention John McCain even once.
No way would the reverse be true.
Update 2: And add this one: Barack is the son of Malcolm X. Seriously.
From Time Magazine’s Swampland blog: 