McCain ad: blonde women & black Obama; get it?
There was always hope that race and age would not enter into this presidential election. But American politics has slid so far into the pit that it is hopeless to hold out for that. The McCain TV ad that intersperses blonde women celebrities, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, with black man, Barack Obama, is an obvious attempt to play upon American bigoted fears. The further implication is that "we don't know much about this black man." Put that in the Karl Rove-style excrement pile with the continued hint that Barack Obama is a Moslem like Osama bin Laden, and you have a "winner."
John McCain, gaining strength in the 2000 Republican presidential primaries, was brought down by a gaggingly sick Bush ad, is now stooping to these tactics himself. Another war hero like McCain, John Kerry, was sabotaged by a bold-face lying ad by the fictional Vietnam boat people. While both parties seem to prefer ads that use scare tactics, lies, diversions, and avoid anything about important policies of the candidates, the Republicans and neocons are in a slime class of their own.
When it comes to doing anything altruistic by representatives in the White House, Congress, or the Supreme Court, forget it. A pox on all three houses as currently operating. If Obama really would bring about refreshing change, it would be welcomed. But it won't happen unless American citizens hold his feet to the fire, and make him deliver on his promises.
We need an entire cleaning in Washington. All factions are beholden to big business to various degrees. It will not be easy to change. Perhaps a Harvard graduate who has worked among the poorest of us, a man of a different color, a man of great intellect and charisma can bring it off. We are at a pivotal point in our history. Let us hope Senator Obama is the man of the hour. George W. Bush leaves him a terrible mess to clean up and try to move forward.
