So, which is it?

Is the John McCain campaign willing to defend the people yelling "Kill him!" and "Traitor!" in their crowds? Or, are they somewhat taken aback by the tone? Or, are they completely at a loss to explain what they have intentionally unleashed? I know I don't know and I also know that they don't seem to know.

First they released a statement of outrage at Barack Obama's comments regarding their supporters comments in recent days. He said:

"It's easy to rile up a crowd," Obama said. "Nothing's easier than riling up a crowd by stoking anger and division. But that's not what we need right now in the United States."

They said, in response:

"Barack Obama's assault on our supporters is insulting and unsurprising. These are the same people Obama called 'bitter' and attacked for 'clinging to guns' and faith. He fails to understand that people are angry at corrupt practices in Washington and Wall Street and he fails to understand that America's working families are not 'clinging' to anything other than the sincere hope that Washington will be reformed from top to bottom."

"Attacking our supporters is a new low for the campaign that's run more millions of dollars of negative ads than any other in history."

Then they further said:

“Barack Obama’s attacks on Americans who support John McCain reveal far more about him than they do about John McCain. It is clear that Barack Obama just doesn’t understand regular people and the issues they care about. He dismisses hardworking middle class Americans as clinging to guns and religion, while at the same time attacking average Americans at McCain rallies who are angry at Washington, Wall Street and the status quo."

Are they serious? They are really defending these remarks? I would imagine the Secret Service themselves have serious issues with several of the remarks!

But, not so fast! Remember, we are talking about the Trainwreck Express here. This is obviously, despite being said and then reiterated, not necessarily the last word! Because John McCain said today in Minnesota:

"I am enthusiastic and encouraged by the enthusiasm and I think it's really good," McCain said. "We have to fight and I will fight but we will be respectful. I admire Sen. Obama and his accomplishments and I want to be respectful.

"I don't mean that you have to lose your ferocity. I just mean you have to be respectful."

Way to have a consistent message. I don't know about you, but most Americans will probably read that as acknowledging that there has been at least some outrageous language used out loud at his rallies.

There was also this via Swampland:

Indeed, he just snatched the microphone out the hands of a woman who began her question with, "I'm scared of Barack Obama... he's an Arab terrorist..."

"No, no ma'am," he interrupted. "He's a decent family man with whom I happen to have some disagreements."

So, obviously, he is realizing there is a problem here. Or at least, obviously to to impartial observers and those of us jaded by the left.

This is crazy. I am not the only one who thinks so. LOTS OF US DO. Sullivan put it very well this morning:

But they are also very very dangerous. This is a moment of maximal physical danger for the young Democratic nominee. And McCain is playing with fire. If he really wants to put country first, he will attack Obama on his policies - not on these inflammatory, personal, creepy grounds. This is getting close to the atmosphere stoked by the Israeli far right before the assassination of Rabin.

For God's sake, McCain, stop it. For once in this campaign, put your country first.

This is not a joke. There are those extreme emotions out there. I am VERY sure that McCain's people have heard from the Secret Service. If they haven't, then that agency isn't doing it's job.

John McCain's campaign needs to shut up and stop defending these people.

John McCain himself needs to forcefully denounce all such comments.

John McCain, Sarah Palin, Rick Davis, Steve Schmidt et al. need to stop trying to incite their most rabid followers to express these thoughts about their opponent. This serves no useful purpose other than to put the candidate in physical danger.

It certainly isn't helping their poll numbers. It is scaring off the swing voters left and right! Sure, that twenty odd percent that never abandoned Bush probably loves this crap. Is that really who you are targeting? Has this really become a "God! I hope we can avoid a landslide!" campaign? If it has, well, you are alienating a whole bunch of people who would normally still support you by enticing these total nut jobs. You are scaring people. They don't want to vote for someone whose most rabid fans were on the Jerry Springer show last week!

If, lord forbid, anything happens to Obama in the next few weeks or months, the actions of John McCain and his campaign in the last week mean they will be held largely responsible for provoking it. They will never be forgiven.

They had better cut it out now and pray that they haven't unleashed something dangerously beyond their control.

The statements issued thus far in response to Obama are completely unacceptable.

The statements made by the candidate thus far are far to weak to be of any real use in stopping what they have already unleashed. They need to be far more forceful.

Again, the underlying accusations need to end immediately for this to stop. Now.

Comments welcome,

Pat McGovern

It's got electoral votes. It's what politicians crave.