On Friday at an event in North Dakota, liberal talk radio host Ed Schultz was introducing Barack Obama to the gathered crowd and called John McCain a "warmonger," after which Obama thanked him for his speech. Obama has now said he will not repudiate Schultz's remarks. Compare that with John McCain's reaction to the introduction given by Bill Cunningham in Ohio, where Cunningham thought it appropriate to repeatedly use Obama's middle name. McCain apologized for Cunningham's slur, repudiated the comments, and promised to take the high-road in the campaign. And that was just for using Obama's actual middle name.
Is this the "new politics" we can expect from Obama? Obama lets his surrogates do the name calling, while he takes the stage and speaks highly of setting a new tone in politics and raising political discourse. Obama has positioned himself as the candidate of change. So far, we've seen the same hysterical anti-war rhetoric coming from his events. Rather than just talking about changing the discourse, Obama should follow through and actually work to change it.
Finally, how will Obama supporter Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin react? Will she criticize the comment made by those associated with her candidate, or stand by Obama and support it?
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