An' Negativity Don't Pull You Through (Bob Dylan)

Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail —You may recognize those words as the title of one of Hunter S. Thompson’s signature contributions to Gonzo Journalism, written as he covered the 1972 presidential campaign. Too bad that it best describes the direction that the McCain campaign has taken the final weeks of this election. Check out this piece from Huffington Post. Even though our conservative friends may dismiss the source, read the substance and the quotes from respected Republicans who are appalled at the strategy McCain and Palin are using in a desperate effort to break through with voters who seem to recognize the bankruptcy (pun intended) of the GOP’s approach, except, of course, the "angry ones" eager to vent during the McCain-Palin rallies. The look and sound of the crowds, some calling for Obama’s destruction, should make any thinking and responsible supporter of the McCain-Palin ticket think again about the direction this is headed. Palin, unlike McCain, seems to encourage and enjoy the verbally violent responses that the crowds are eager to offer. McCain just looks uncomfortable, but apparently not uncomfortable enough to have his staff tone down the rhetoric and take the campaign in a more dignified direction.

The messages we are getting from the McCain camp encourage the "Us against Them" culture warfare that is all about attacking Obama as "other" or different. Among the canards circulating are that he's a Muslim, that he's a terrorist, and that his relationship with William Ayers is much more than it really is.

If this election ends with an Obama win and large gains for the Democrats in Congress, the McCain campaign's strategy will have contributed mightilly to the success of its opponent. All of those who have respect for Sen. McCain will find his legacy diminished by the hateful and divisive tone of the current campaign. Voters were not buying the "Maverick" pitch of just a week ago, and we now hear less and less of that overused and misunderstood word. Instead, the focus is now on "that one", his exotic name, past associations--however innocent--and his "liberalism".

If the McCain camp turns the tide and eventually wins there will be much written about how well going negative continues to succeed. Fortunately, however, voters seem to be rejecting the personal attacks. Probably because the economy, the war, and health care concerns, mean more than empty attacks coupled with appeals to the "base's" baser instincts. Leadership is about bringing out the best in people; demagogues do the opposite.