Why did Obama, Biden, campaign spokespeople, and bloggers all decide last week to taunt John McCain over his lack of courage in the last debate? It’s a variation on the old Brer Rabbit fairy tale about the Briar Patch. “Oh, please, Sen. McCain, say whatever you will, but please do not fling me in that briar patch.”
Simply put, we want John McCain to bring up William Ayers in the next debate. We’re dying to have him show the American people that he is a nasty, malicious, dishonorable, and out-of-touch old man, who is stuck in the amber of the 1960’s and 1970’s. McCain hates nothing more than to have his honor and his courage questioned. For example, he got ruffled when Charlie Gibson asked him why he didn’t bring up William Ayers in the last debate.
MCCAIN: Again, two things I’ve never been accused of lacking. And one is passion, and the other is courage. I mean, I can accept a lot of the other criticisms.
But he can’t accept a critique of his honor or his courage, which is precisely why we made those critiques. We’re trying to get John McCain to blow his top and we’re goading him into defending his honor in the next debate. And, it has worked (audio). Here is what John McCain just told a St. Louis radio audience:
“I was astonished to hear him say that he was surprised I didn’t have the guts” to talk about Ayers last week.
That pretty much locks John McCain in. He must bring up William Ayers in the debate now, and that is precisely what we want. Not only have polls shown that this line attack backfired, and not only does it make John McCain seem old and out-of-touch, but PolitiFact has thoroughly debunked the charges. As McCain should know by now, winning a debate is not only a matter of scoring points during the 90-minutes of questions and answers, but a matter of winning the post-debate spin. Bringing up a thoroughly debunked charge is not a good idea. It’s a particularly bad idea when you have already declared war on the press, and the press is angling to establish a good working relationship and access to the next (Obama) administration. The pundits will have a field-day deconstructing the false-charges and they’ll tie it to you like an anvil.
So, yes, please, John McCain. Please defend your honor and bring up William Ayers in the debate. Throw your telegraphed haymaker and watch Barack Obama’s short, stiff counterpunch drop you like a sack of potatoes. Pretty please.
