dcpolitico's Blog

    Every four years, presidential candidates vow to campaign on the “issues” and refrain from negative attacks on the opposition. And every four years, these vows fare about as well as a New Year’s resolution to lose weight.
    Of course, the candidates like to stay above the fray. Their bidding is done by subordinates. Case in point:  retired General Wesley Clark, a supporter of Barack Obama, said he didn’t think that John McCain’s record as a fighter pilot and prisoner of war was relevant to the job of President of the United States. The point is somewhat ludicrous in that Wesley Clark ran for President four years ago and I’m quite certain he highlighted his military service during his unsuccessful run.
    Far left bloggers have also taken aim at McCain’s military service, accusing him  of "disloyalty" while a captive in Vietnam for his forced participation in propaganda interviews following repeated torture and beatings.
    While Obama will clearly distance himself from such attacks, and there is no evidence, of course, that his campaign is tied to such absurd accusations, it remains a disturbing trend.  The Obama campaign knows it cannot compete with John McCain on the patriotism issue. They will seek to minimize the issue in the general election. But in doing so, they risk alienating a substantial voting bloc: those who have served in the military and their families.
    The Swift Boat campaign in the 2004 election demonstrated that nothing is beyond scrutiny in presidential politics. But John Kerry was not subject to the unspeakable horrors that John McCain endured during his service to our country. The Obama campaign should clearly stay away from this political minefield.

Tom DiBacco