Last night David Gergen was telling Colbert how these awful Bushies are running an ugly campaign despite McCain's essential honor and decency. Apparently McCain is wielding some control, but he's clearly complicit in the ugliness -- and if it really is happening despite him, well, that doesn't say much for his leadership abilities.

In any case, it comes across as desperate and off topic, given the serious problems we face. My guess is that voters will respond to Obama's calm and focus and not to McCain's angry, win-at-all-costs campaign.

Also on teevee: an SNL special that reminded me of the lameness of the set-up-and-punchline schtick of the Meyers-and-Poehler-era Weekend Update. Tina Fey has given the show a huge shot in the arm this fall, but without her, it's still pretty terrible.

Comments

[Jeffrey Sykes]

While I'm sure some will follow with examples of the Obama double standard, what I find interesting is that Democrats seem to think Obama can't stand up to a proper examination of his past relationships, views and votes and trot out the specter of racism and hatred to parry any thrust into Obama's life pre-2004.

Socrates said the unexamined life is not worth living.

Why can't Obama and his supporters stand for a thorough examination of his background without blowing the dog whistle with code words like racism?

I'm fine with an Obama-Biden administration because I believe in the structure of the American system of government. In return, I would like for Democrats to acknowledge that Wright and Raines are fair game because of their views and actions without hiding behind their natural defense mechanisms.

[Ed Cone]

I'm fine with a thorough investigation of his background, and have not said otherwise. I don't think that investigation, which dates back to the hard-fought primaries, has shown him to be a scary America hater, but that seems to be the gist of the McCain campaign. I don't think that's helpful to the country at this point, nor do I think it will work.

[Thomas]

Wright and Raines are fair game. But the game goes beyond that when the "if, then" argument is made that Obama must secretly believe as they do. This has been examined for months and it is just absurd that so many on the right claim that the left blocks any thorough examination of these folks. The examinations have been done. You know the result.

Socrates was speaking of self-examination. Something that is in woefully short supply these days.

[Anthony]

I don't think it's the examination of his past that's the problem, per se - if McCain wants to spend the next four weeks talking about Ayers, I think that should secure his loss pretty well. I'm more worried about the campaign's riling up of unhinged elements on the right. The implication that Obama himself is somehow a terrorist, or in league with terrorists, or un-American, and the refusal of McCain to speak out against cries of "terrorist!" and "kill him!" at their events is what's worrying to me. McCain and his campaign are playing with fire here in a big way. If they keep it up like this, violence *will* occur. And they will bear a share of the responsibility for it, in my opinion.

[Dave Ribar]

The relationships with Ayers and Wright HAVE been examined. In the case of Ayers, there just isn't anything there.

The Wright issue is a bigger problem because there really was a relationship. However, once again, the questions have been asked and mostly answered. Obama sat for years and years in a church where some hateful things were preached; moreover, he financially supported that church. His participation, support, and lack of criticism are fair game. However, do you think that there are voters who aren't aware of it?

You're right that it's a stretch to call Palin's comments ("This is not a man who sees America as I see America") and similar comments about Obama seeing things differently as veiled racism. However, it's hard to feel sorry for a bunch that huffed and puffed then released an indignant ad after Obama made his "lipstick on a pig" comment.

The comments about "hiding" and not allowing "for a thorough examination" are just plain silly in light of the McCain campaign's active effort to derail the Alaska legislature's investigation into Palin's actions.

Have some Democrats been defensive and touchy about their guy? Absolutely. But not to the level of interfering with a lawful investigation.

And getting touchy and defensive about the touchiness and defensiveness of your opponents seems the silliest of all. Speaking of which, I think I hear Sam typing right now.

[Joe Guarino]

Dave, I disagree with your characterization that "there just isn't anything there" with respect to Bill Ayers. The emerging record, particularly with Stanley Kurtz' work, suggests strongly otherwise. There was a significant collaborative, working relationship between Obama and Ayers. They were allied from a practical standpoint and also from an ideological standpoint.

But there is a lot more back in Obama's past than just Wright and Ayers. The McCain campaign has merely scratched the surface.

[Thomas]

"The McCain campaign has merely scratched the surface."

Nice touch of vagueness... "Ooooo, there's scary, scary stuff out there. Too scary to talk about here."

Care to enlighten us?

[vin_b_botts]

I hear that Cindy McCain's tax returns are in the CAC files and that is why the UIC will not release them to Stanley Kurtz.

[Mick]

As I see it, most folks are like me and see a pattern of association with far lefties. Too far left for my liking. I dont see Obama as a terrorist, Marxist, Black Separatist, etc. Im with Jeff on this. I trust the American people to take corrective action if this goes wrong. We Rs had our shot and failed miserably. The reasons and degree of fault may be debatable but that is all.

As for the current mess.... both parties are up to their eyeballs in it. Too many people didnt do their job.

[Britt Whitmire]

Listen Ed: Not everything can have the sparkle of those well-written Dan Rather bits.

[Joe Guarino]

Thomas, there is too much for me to recount here. Over at my site, I have a category "Obama" in the upper right hand corner if you are interested. Have been writing about it for a couple of months, as others have.

BTW, I don't think calling Obama's character and judgment and candor and leanings into question is an illegitimate exercise. McCain needs to do this, because the record suggests it is eminently justified. Today Obama made the statement that he thought Ayers had been "rehabilitated". Hmmm...

But McCain also needs to communicate better his plans for the economy and the financial crisis, and perhaps fine-tune his plans, if there is time. I am not sure there is enough time to do this; but he needs to try. He cannot rely exclusively on the issue of Obama's awful Chicago past.

[Ed Cone]

Not sure what counts as "rehabilitated," it's obviously subjective and to some it would be impossible to come back from what Ayers did, but he was named Chicago's Citizen of the Year in 1997, serves as a faculty member at a major university, and was on the board of foundation endowed by Reagan BFF Annenberg, so he wasn't exactly in permanent exile from the establishment.

One either believes the Ayers (and Wright) association with Obama is damning, or not. I don't -- nor do I view McCain's close friendship with Keating as a dealbreaker -- and I'd guess that a lot of voters are much more interested in the economic and global situation than such things.

McCain's campaign manager said even before the crash phase of this economic situation that they didn't want an election about issues. To me, that's about as damning a statement as one could make.

[Dave Ribar]

Joe:

There's no "there there" in Kurtz's reporting. That is, nothing goes beyond what's been reported by the New York Times and others.

Besides everyone knows that Obama was too busy helping the Clintons cover up the murder of Vince Foster to have time to pal around with Ayers.

Of course, Gov. Palin has radical friends too. The difference between Palin and Obama is that Palin did a host of favors for her friends.

[eric]

Mistah Kurtz, he dead wrong.

[Beelzebubba]

The most damning trait of both candidates is their desire to have power over other humans. Voting for either pathological petitioner only encourages the process. Leader seekers enable power seekers. Followers who believe that the right legislation will cure their powerlessness are easy pickings for the cult which keeps your name on a mailing list. Keep bickering all the way into the abyss. Mission accomplished.

[Jeffrey Sykes]

"Followers who believe that the right legislation will cure their powerlessness are easy pickings for the cult which keeps your name on a mailing list."

That might be the most cogent thing I've heard during the entire election cycle.