Presumably, there would be outrage in the media, blogs and elsewhere, but when John McCain's long-time friend and chief strategist said to Fortune Magazine that the assassination of Benazir Bhutto "saved" the McCain campaign in the NH primary and a terrorist attack on the U.S. would be to their advantage - there was hardly a peep. Funny how McCain supporters have not been outraged by one of our own theorizing how American deaths might serve the 'greater good' - presuming that electing McCain is the greater good.Obama has at times been the teflon-candidate (nothing bad seems to stick), but nobody complains about the constant attacks from conservative talk radio, YouTube videos, news broadcast channels like FOX News (where Carl Rove now calls home) or the overly politicized pulpits of the tens of thousands of fundamentalist churches who have used race as a wedge and continue to berate Obama (and his wife) every chance they get. If a senior aide from the Obama campaign inferred that massive casualties in Iraq would 'be to their advantage' people would be rightfully outraged. One does not wish pain and suffering or openly court it in the press, but McCain seems to be surrounded by individuals who seem to find it perfectly acceptable; provided they are the ones doing the talking.
This most recent gaff is all the more interesting because it comes on the heels of last month's fiasco involving the notorious Texan millionaire, Clayton Williams. Clayton has made jokes about rape telling women "as long as it's inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it." McCain did cancel his appearance at the last minute but has kept the $300,000. Can you imagine the outrage and how racist phobias would be ignited if Obama took money from a friend who made a similar comment?
Is there a double-standard for Obama and McCain? Absolutely, but apparently it cuts both ways and depending on your personal sympathies these are either non-issues or outrages that infuriate. Take your pick.
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