John Nichols: A Serious Question of Character

[babylonsister]

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/339938

A Serious Question of Character
posted by John Nichols on 07/28/2008 @ 2:04pm


For many Americans, the measure of a candidate seeking the presidency comes down to questions of character.

Perhaps the most important of these is: How does he or she react under pressure?

It is certainly reasonable to surmise that, if a candidate cannot handle the rigors of the campaign, then he or she might have trouble tackling the responsibilities of the office.

It is this fair test that John McCain has, in recent days, been failing – badly.

snip//

McCain and his aides were so desperate to find something to complain about that they would have attacked Obama no matter what he did.

But the nature of this attack, and of the broader suggestion that Obama is somehow unconcerned about the United States and its troops, reveals the real McCain.

As Hagel says, "I think John is treading on some very thin ground here when he impugns motives, and when we start to get into 'You're less patriotic than me, I'm more patriotic.' John's better than that."

Unfortunately, there is mounting evidence that John is not better than that.

And it is this evidence that calls into question whether McCain, his distinguished past service notwithstanding, retains the character – specifically the ability to react responsibly to pressure -- that is required of a president.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Hagel needs to understand that John is NOT better than that. I am

truly baffled as to why he still proclaims a friendship with such an awful, craven, amoral man.

[babylonsister]

2. That's Hagel's opinion having known him for many years.

I do wonder if Hagel is changing his opinion now; sure seems like it given what we're all hearing.

[H2O Man]

3. There are a number

of republicans in Washington who were friends with Dick Cheney in the '70s, '80s, and '90s, who began to say they "didn't recognize him anymore" as VP. Life does some mighty strange things to people, especially those who seek powerful for selfish reasons. John McCain is as much a McCheney as a McBush.

[grasswire]

4. maybe it's a plague of brain tumors...

...all those cell phones.

[babylonsister]

5. Good point; Cheney did lose loads of support. McCain's following

in his footsteps.

[Cha]

6. That's mccain's biggest problem..he isn't "better than that."

Never was and never will be.

Rec'd!

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

8. He will say anything. He will do anything.

He's George W. Bush without to doofus exterior.

[AZBlue]

7. McCain has no character.

No character, no morals, no heart, no values.
He's not the same as Bush - he's worse.

[TexasObserver]

9. Agreed. He's dancing the Loser's Dance.

When a candidate stops running on himself and starts running on bringing down his opponent, he's usually done. It looks petty and sleazy, because it is petty and sleazy. Voters like a confident, pleasant candidate.