Reality Replaces Rhetoric

In what seemed to be a "What have I done" moment at a rally yesterday, John McCain attempted to halt the diatribe that has begun to take over his events.


His efforts were recognized by Barack Obama at a rally this morning.

I want to acknowledge that Senator McCain tried to tone down the rhetoric in his town hall meeting yesterday,” Mr. Obama said, speaking at an early-morning rally in North Philadelphia. “I appreciated his reminder that we can disagree while still being respectful of each other. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – Senator McCain has served this country with honor, and he deserves our thanks for that.

While there is still an inconsistency in message between McCain, his surrogates, the RNC and even McCain himself, yesterday was notable as McCain seemed to embrace his earlier rhetoric about the dignity of his campaign and the tenor that he would avoid. We haven't seen this level of respect in months, and certainly not over the past week. Recognizing that the toothpaste was oozing out of the tube, both at the rallies and thanks to YouTube, McCain acted nobly, if only for a moment.

McCain was criticized in a Baltimore Sun op-ed piece yesterday, written by an author who knows him well.

John McCain and Sarah Palin, you are playing with fire, and you know it. You are unleashing the monster of American hatred and prejudice, to the peril of all of us. You are doing this in wartime. You are doing this as our economy collapses. You are doing this in a country with a history of assassinations.

Change the atmosphere of your campaign. Talk about the issues at hand. Make your case. But stop stirring up the lunatic fringe of haters, or risk suffering the judgment of history and the loathing of the American people - forever.

We will hold you responsible.

McCain seemed to heed the call.