Why McCain Became "McNasty"

Dennis Sanders, a black moderate-liberal Republican blogger, writes: "The thing is, I would have loved a campaign on the issues, but let’s face it, when McCain was going to places where Republicans feared to tread, no one was paying much attention- even those who are now tut-tuting his decent into mud-throwing. Centrists generally bemoan such mud-slinging. We want to see politics as a gentlemanly sport, something akin to the philosophers in Athens debating various topics of the day. We want to see it as a rational endeavor, where we discuss the facts of the issues. But something that I am learning, is that politics, regardless of whether it is on the Left or the Right is ever a rational endeavor. Politics isn’t a debating club, it’s a full contact sport. If you are going to run for something like President, you either play big or go home. It’s not the way I would like it and no doubt, a lot of centrists don’t want that either, but that’s how the game is played."

He continues his commentary: "The result of going dirty? McCain is now posting some leads against Obama. Now, I agree that McCain has been playing dirty and it would be nice if we had the McCain of 2000 instead of the McCain of 2008. But the thing is, the McCain of 2000 lost. He didn’t win. He lost to a pretty dirty campaign by then-Governor Bush. The thing is, politics is about winning. And let’s be honest, while he hasn’t sullied himself as much, Obama has also played dirty at times as well. You play aggressive to win, no matter the party. The fact is, the general public and the media ignored McCain this time around when tried to be the honorable politician. We want conflict. Look how much the media focused on the whole 'lipstick on a pig' fluff. We want to see the mud fling and then turn around and start yapping about how mean politicians act toward one another. McCain is to blame for playing below the belt. But some of those fingers pointing at McCain also need to point back to the rest of us for making the rules."

My response: Sen. McCain became "McNasty" for the same reason why Sen. Obama has put out attack ads after claiming to represent a new way of doing things: to win the presidential election. Short, negative messages stay in voters' subconscious minds. Being nicey nicey and a doormat while your opponent attacks you does not win elections.