Election Night

John McCain gave a good concession speech on election night. He sounded like the old John McCain -- the one I used to respect and even thought about crossing party lines to vote for once, a long time ago. That was before he became an angry old man, bowing to the rabid Right of his party and following the very disciples of Karl Rove who trashed McCain and his family in 2000.

I was struck by the fact that when McCain first mentioned Obama in his speech, the Republican crowd booed and McCain had to settle them down (twice or three times). When Obama mentioned McCain, the crowd in Grant Park cheered. A telling difference.

If McCain had run as himself, rather than jumping on board with the far right and the Rovian advisers, he'd have been much better off. He may even have won.

But the greater loss is the damage done to our system of government by all of the hateful rumors. News reports this week tell of people flocking to gun stores to stock up on weapons, before Obama does away with the Second Amendment (Obama has publicly stated his support for gun rights). I talked to a guy this week who is convince Obama will soon form a secret police force (a la Stalin), and a woman visibly upset because al Quaeda will soon be welcomed to resume operations on U.S. soil under an Obama administration.

All of these things are absurd, and John McCain would be the first to say so. But the damage has been done. People actually believe the lies that are used as campaign fear tactics.

When you sow nastiness and hate, that's what you reap. One conciliatory speech at the end doesn't undo months of negativity.