John McCain Does Right In Castigating Bill Cunningham

Politik Ditto, a black conservative Democratic blogger, writes about how Sen. John McCain disavowed a conservative radio host who made comments about Sen. Obama's full name and being a "hack, Chicago-style politician" before Sen. McCain was to speak at a campaign rally: "I won't pretend to know much about Bill Cunningham, but from the recent looks of it, he's no different than all the rest of the divisive, delusional, all-or-nothing, kick all the illegals out conservatives on the fringe Right....By constantly reminding folks of Barack Obama's middle name and patronizing to knee-jerk reactions towards anyone they suspect being a terrorist the Limbaugh-Right only show how quick and willing they are to march in step with their leader. Too bad for them their exploitation of the fear card won't work this year, as we've seen with the likes of Duncan Hunter and especially Rudolph Giuliani, playing to the paranoia and demands of the fringe-Right will only leave you looking foolish and eventually get you kicked out of the race for President. And deservedly so. Thank goodness John McCain had the good sense to denounce Cunningham's dim-witted smear tactics."

My response: I saw Bill Cunningham interviewed last night on "Hannity & Colmes" on the FOX News Channel. He outrageously claimed that using Sen. Obama's full name was not a racial play, but merely calling him by the name that his parents gave him. Alan Colmes rightly nailed him on trying to associate Sen. Obama as either being a Muslim, or with anti-American interests and that he should just be honest about it. I should also point out that Karl Rove strongly believes that it is not in Republicans' interests to keep referring to Sen. Obama by his middle name, because it makes the GOP look bigoted (which it does). Sen. McCain's actions also helps him with Democrats. As illustrated last night on a whiteboard by Mr. Rove, three national polls currently show Sen. McCain is getting twice the percentage of Democrats - "McCainacrats" - to support his campaign as Sen. Obama is getting the much-talked-about "Obamacans" - Republicans - to support him.