Alter Blows Whistle on McCain Smears

Jonathan Alter of Newsweek calls John McCain on his false attacks on Barack Obama.

For about a month, McCain's campaign has been resorting to charges that are patently false. When Obama traveled abroad in July, to positive reviews, McCain decided he had to make attack ads that went far beyond the norm. In the past, plainly deceptive ads were the province of the Republican National Committee or the Democratic National Committee or independent committees free to fling mud that didn't bear the fingerprints of candidates. But not this time. These smears come directly from the candidate.

McCain's campaign theme is that he puts the country first and Obama puts himself above his country... But when he resorts to these kinds of falsehoods, and casts such aspersions on his opponent's patriotism, John McCain is no longer putting his country first. If he were, he would recognize that the interests of the nation require a relatively truthful campaign. To fulfill his image of himself, McCain should stop lying about his opponent. For a man with his claims to honor and integrity, that's not too much to ask.

It is refreshing to see an established member of the mainstream media finally state the obvious. McCain demeans himself and the entire debate with false attacks on Obama.

--Ballard Burgher