Obama the Terrorist?

How much more of this can America take?

“Who is the real Barack Obama?”

Today's latest attack on Presidential candidate Barack Obama by Senator John McCain focused on this question posed to the American public. Who is the real Barack Obama? Is he a terrorist supporter with no idea what American politics are or entail that if elected would certainly spell the further demise of the American people? If you ask John McCain then the answer to all these questions is yes.

In reality, these questions seem preposterous. Even if you do not support Obama or his politics, do you really believe that he is that mysterious and terrible a person?

A New York Times story today focused on how the Campaigns were "shifting to attack mode" on the eve of the second presidential debate. Despite the fact that both candidates denied their interest in these petty, childish attacks on each others characters over the summer, BOTH find themselves within a mudslinging war.

Several weeks ago, I wrote about how presidential ads were reaching a new low, turning off young voters like myself. I'd rather hear about these candidates views on important policies rather than listen to them attack each other mercilessly. I don't want my President to be a gutless man with no respect for his fellow American.

Campbell Brown of CNN explained the situation well, saying, "Here's a purely practical reason: The negativity you are spewing now will only make your job harder after Election Day. Bipartisanship is really tough to achieve when everyone on both sides is left with a bad bad taste in their mouths...Don't you want to be able to walk into the White House with your dignity intact and your head held high?" (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/06/campbell.brown.campaign/index.html?iref=mpstoryview)

I hope that the candidates will somehow find it within themselves to focus on their own political strengths and weaknesses over the final 4 weeks before the election rather than trying to make the other look like an anti-American hooligan. I doubt this will happen, but it sure would be nice. Right?