Robocalls from "McNasty"

McCain's campaign has now become as mean, nasty, and sleazy as Karl Rove ever conducted against him in 2000. There are no excuses. Don't try to defend Hero John by saying it's his Rovian campaign managers, not really him. He chose them, he is responsible, he could tell them to stop.

In May 2006, John McCain was asked whether he was bending his principles for the sake of winning, when he courted Jerry Falwell in an effort to get the conservative base. He replied:

"I don't want it that badly. . . . I will continue to do what is right. . . . If that means I can't get the Republican nomination, fine. I've had a happy life. The worst thing I can do is sell my soul to the devil."

As Richard Nixon's spokesman used to say, when confronted with his contradictions: "That statement is no longer operable."

If it ever was. Or maybe in 2006 McCain was just saying what he knew would sound good. As Peggy Noonan recently said about Sarah Pallin: "She doesn't even think out loud. She just says things."

It's time for other Republican senators and party leaders to step in and denounce these latest McCain tactics. It will only damange them. It won't win the election. And it is not right, John, and you know it.

Ralph

P.S. "McNasty" was McCain's nickname at the Naval Academy.