Continuing the unhelpful theme of “just stop saying this stuff”, the RNC has chastised its terrified Tennessee representatives:
(CNN) – Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan formally denounced Thursday the Tennessee Republican Party’s use of Barack Obama’s full name in a recent press release questioning the Illinois senator’s commitment to Israel.
“The RNC rejects these kinds of campaign tactics,” RNC Chairman Mike Duncan said in a statement. “We believe this election needs to be about the critical issues confronting our nation.”
The problem, unfortunately, can’t be solved so easily. Like it or not, years of war have made Islam one of those critical issues — particularly for Republicans. When someone’s screaming from a nightmare, telling them to just hush up is unhelpful in the extreme.
For many, the name Hussein evokes Saddam, which brings Iraq, which leads to al-Qaeda, which results in… if we don’t stay vigilant, we’ll be fighting Islamic extremism in our very own cul-de-sacs!!!!
This is not the raving of some small radical fringe (my prior post on that here). It’s the logical, totally predictable result of a political tactic… and if you’re going tell scary stories at bedtime, you need to be prepared to deal with the resulting Things That Go Bump In The Night.
But just as importantly, there’s a McCain yang to the Obama yin, and this recently embraced endorsement is causing distress as well:
Hagee, who heads a 19,000-member church in San Antonio, is best known for his outspoken support of Israel and writings on the Middle East, where he envisions a blood-soaked clash between East and West leading to the return of Jesus Christ.
“I’m very honored by Pastor John Hagee’s endorsement today,” McCain said at a news conference. “He has been the staunchest leader of our Christian evangelical movement in many areas, but especially, most especially, his close ties and advocacy for the freedom and independence of the state of Israel.”
Hagee’s visions, unfortunately, seem to hinge upon that “blood-soaked clash” getting underway after Iran is bombed… and for yet another segment of our population, McCain’s strong acceptance of Hagee taps right into fears that the disastrous approach in Iraq was merely Stage One in a larger plan for the Middle East, or that Christian Fundamentalists’ quest for the Rapture are driving American foreign policy.
Would a renunciation of Hagee’s world view convince people that a President McCain won’t turn his sights on Iran next? I doubt it, anymore than renouncing Farrakhan will soothe the trepidation regarding Obama… but that doesn’t mean John McCain should ignore pleas for reassurance.
Both candidates need to confront these fears head-on.
Night terrors are psychologically crippling, and exhausted, haunted Americans are suffering on both sides of the political aisle.
(Cross-posted to The Moderate Voice)
* * * * *
Update: Hmmm…. I dunno that this hedge qualifies as renouncing a world view. What do you think?
Hagee is a nut, who is quite explicit about rejecting any politician who suggests that there can be negotiation over the future of the Palestinians or that they can have any of the land they live on (because his religion says they can’t). He also is quite explicit about looking forward to the cataclysmic war that will begin in that part of the world. When I hear McCain say that he’s happy to have his endorsement, I get very, very concerned.