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While I agree with most of your argument, ASTalumna06, I completely disagree with this statement:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06 (Post 1732248)

Because of that, candidates should not be required or expected to say anything to these wacked out crazies. If John McCain, or anyone else, said something to this woman, or to anyone else who yelled out, "kill him," their efforts to change their opinion would have been futile.

Whether or not the effort would be futile is not the point. There's a moral imperative here. If someone threatens violence against the opposing candidate, a message is given by McCain or Obama by what they say and what they fail to say. The crazies on either side will probably continue to believe their crazy thoughts regardless but the presidential candidates must be the voices of reason.

I give McCain credit for what he has said to the crazies. I've been told that some crazies on the left have said Palin deserves to be gang raped. I haven't heard that during an Obama rally but if I did I would absolutely expect Obama to call those people out forcefully. If he didn't, I would be shocked, disappointed and livid.

It's about the character of the candidates on both sides. Nothing speaks more to character than what one chooses to ignore or fight against.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leslie Anne (Post 1732294)

While I agree with most of your argument, ASTalumna06, I completely disagree with this statement:

Whether or not the effort would be futile is not the point. There's a moral imperative here. If someone threatens violence against the opposing candidate, a message is given by McCain or Obama by what they say and what they fail to say. The crazies on either side will probably continue to believe their crazy thoughts regardless but the presidential candidates must be the voices of reason.

I give McCain credit for what he has said to the crazies. I've been told that some crazies on the left have said Palin deserves to be gang raped. I haven't heard that during an Obama rally but if I did I would absolutely expect Obama to call those people out forcefully. If he didn't, I would be shocked, disappointed and livid.

It's about the character of the candidates on both sides. Nothing speaks more to character than what one chooses to ignore or fight against.

RIGHT EXACTLY.

McCain should come out against these type of statements. It may not do any good in the crazies' opinions, but rational voters will respond better to him if he defends Obama against his crazies rather than ignoring them.

A journalist I know was roughed up at a McCain-Palin rally recently:

http://blog.news-record.com/staff/ca...from_pal.shtml

Crazy stuff...Joe's an incredibly nice guy, so I can't really think of any good reason why this other guy should have gone after him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leslie Anne (Post 1732294)

I guess I should have stated that differently. It is not their responsibility to get involved in the argument. Trying to calm them, and briefly make a statement in disagreeing with them is fine. But to go much further than that could honestly put their own lives in jeopardy. To know that your candidate "supports" someone who you absolutely hate could set some people off.

I'd also like to add that this entire process has been dragging for so long that people are looking for anything and everything to keep it interesting. With negative ads, debates that are uneventful and less than inspiring, and speeches being interupted by insane protestors, I am so anxious for this thing to just be over. And I'm sure the rest of the country is, too.

I'd also like to say that if either candidate wins, I'm worried. And not because one is going to die (because of an assassination or a heart attack, or whatever other reason everyone is coming up with), but because I don't believe these attacks and comments are going to end. The only difference is, if Obama wins, the people who were against him at the McCain speeches will show up at events featuring him, and vice versa. I think that either way, each candidate is going to have difficulties rallying the entire country behind him following the November election.