For those who haven’t yet noticed, Obama has been swift-boated. One of Obama’s greatest strengths is the sense of optimism and hope he brings to many people. This is a huge threat to the GOP death machine, and so of course it is being taken on directly much like the war hero status of the previous Democratic nominee John Kerry was attacked.
Only a truly cynical people, responding to a truly cynical message could buy such an attack, and it may well be working. You see many on our side of the political divide engage in critical and logical thinking, and as such often show distain and disregard for techniques that are not consistent with critical and logical thinking.
Unfortunately, we do so at our own peril. I do not suggest that we become like the GOP and engage in these tactics. The point is, we need to effectively counter such BS, and so far I believe we are failing. Al Gore was a worthy, brilliant candidate for president and he even won the vote in Florida, but that is not how it was counted at the time so it meant nothing.
Kerry may have won Ohio, in a sea of GOP corruption where ballets were wisped off to GOP controlled areas where no Dems were allowed to watch as the numbers magically changed to favor the GOP, so again it didn’t matter who legitimately won the election.
We live in a cynical, corrupt country and Obama’s message of hope is most definitely a threat to the GOP. McCain is "proud" of deceptive attack ads...of course he is, they are having the intended effect, to tarnish Obama and discourage those who hope for a better future. McCain has become like one of the sickened character in lord of the rings (Lord Denethor) was a hopeless old man who lost his bearings and was doomed to a tragic ending.
Problem is, the Lord Denethors of the world try to doom everyone around them in the process. If McCain is successful in these attempts, it will truly be the triumph of cynicism and despair that wins in the end.