A couple of weeks ago, I saw a portion of a McCain town hall meeting. Several people expressed fear of an Obama presidency. For once McCain reverted to his honorable self and said there was nothing to fear from an Obama presidency. I see now that his campaign and the Republican 527 groups have returned to the fear message. Obama has not resorted to this tactic; however that perspective has not trickled down to many of his supporters. A recent Daily Show piece from both campaigns talked about fear and world destruction with the success of the opponent candidate. I confess that I'm one of those people who fear a McCain presidency. I'm embarrassed that it sounds so lame on TV, especially when my fear is compared to the McCain supporters screaming about the end of the world.
I, in my elite self-exploration mode wonder if I'm not being as narrow minded as those I have identified on McCain/Palin's side. They express what I consider are tarnished and bigoted reasons for fearing Obama: he's a Muslim, an Arab, a terrorist, a socialist, a baby killer. These fears are often hyped by McCain/Palin and their official supporters, especially as we get closer to the election. These fears seem to lead to hostile acts and ugly aggression from some. How will this division end - in another assassination or other unrest.
I do fear a McCain/Palin administration because of his jingoistic calls to attack the "terrorists", defining them broadly, the call to stay in Iraq, perhaps attack Iran, to reignite the cold war with Russia, his Bush-like dismissal of the advantages of talking to our enemies, his economic policies so similar to Bush, his erratic temperament in addressing the economic meltdown during the campaign, his seeming reversal of principles on so many issues; and the possibility that he will die in office. Once I thought he was honorable, but that honor seems to have been overtaken by blind ambition. You know he wants to be President oh so very badly that he has decided that he will say anything, do anything that might stick or work.
I remember a time when you voted for or against the other guy because you didn't like the policies he was proposing, but you generally forgot the rancor of the campaign and got back to life after the election. The one time I remember that didn't work this way was under Nixon, who was despised by half the country because of the war in Vietnam. That war split the country in ways that still reverberate. This election seems to be highlighting those splits in the country again. I love this country but I don't want to be a part of a country that does the things this government has done over the last 8 years. I don't want to be a part of a country that can't put the common good before the individual good. And the other side fears being a part of country that could elect a black man, that could be okay with gay marriage, that allow the "killing" of the unborn, who might control guns so that an 8 year old doesn't get killed by an Uzi he is shooting. I can't help feeling part of the problem preventing a unified country because of my fear, but my fear just won't go away unless McCain loses. Will their fear be as lasting or can Obama appeal to their better selves?
This is a long way of saying that I'm afraid of another Bush four years and I'm glad that Obama is appealing to our better selves, and I just wish I had a better self when it comes to the possibility of McCain winning. I only hope I don't find out, because I really don't think I can continue to live in a McCain/Palin country that Rove/Bush/Cheney have begot.
