McCain, the backpeddler

After a rough couple weeks of attacks by McCain and his camp against Barack Obama, the senator from Arizona finally decides to back off. But, is it too little, too late? All of the negative ads and smear tactics have incited the party's base and they are angry at Obama. Now, McCain wants to say that this campaign has to be respectful. REALLY?! The McCain campaign says that their voters are not outraged, but frustrated by Obama's plan to raise taxes. Are you kidding me? There are people out there who are saying that they are scared if Barack Obama becomes the president. There is a very big difference between being scared and being worried. I would be worried if John McCain is elected as our next president, but not scared.

McCain is stirring up people's emotions and not in a good way. Instead of talking about the issues and thinking through problems and developing solutions, McCain is encouraging people to vote with their gut. How often has your gut gotten you into trouble? Aren't some gut reactions based on your preconceived notions about people or issues? David Brooks, conservative columnist for The New York Times, explains this Republican strategy far better than I could.

At the beginning of this last round of the campaign, I wished that both sides would provide the voters with well-thought educated answers and plans to our country's and our world's problems. I'll admit that the Obama camp is not perfect, but at least slander and libel are not part of their campaign strategy. These last 24 days will be tough and I'm not sure if I can stomach any more crap.

UPDATE: Are McCain and Palin on the outs? Check out this article from The Times (London).