Integrity Watch: Hey McCain…. Say it to His Face

Tuesday, October 7, 2008, Barack Obama carried himself with fluid ease and grace during the second and most recent presidential debate. He seemed to wear a steady, almost amused expression throughout the evening. Could it have been because he was calmly laying in wait of McCain to mention his association with William Ayers?

Obama seemed to grow more amused still, as the debate drew closer to the end. Was it because he realized that McCain would likely sidestep the issue altogether, which in turn could create quite the advantageous situation for Obama?

Such an advantageous moment arose when Barack Obama was interviewed by ABC’s Charlie Gibson, Wednesday night. Due to the recent effort of the McCain campaign to convince voters that Barack Obama is the wrong type of American, thus cannot to be trusted, Gibson questioned Obama as to whether he was surprised that John McCain failed to mention Obama’s relationship with William Ayers during the last debate. Obama replied with this:

“Well, I am surprised that, you know, we’ve been seeing some pretty over-the-top attacks coming out of the McCain campaign over the last several days that he wasn’t willing to say it to my face.”

What a beautiful and brilliant move on Obama’s part.

In this play, Obama issues a clear challenge to McCain. He’s basically sayin’ *(wink)* to him, “Put up, or shut up.” Obama’s statement, no doubt, implies that he is willing to address the issue. It places McCain in a very precarious position, for certain. Ick!

I mean…really? What in creation is a maverick to do?

Let us assume that John McCain does not want to incorporate the subject of William Ayers into the next debate. What will he do, or not do, in the meantime?

Will McCain and Palin, in respect of campaigning, stop the terrorist association speech, and officially reprimand the vile rhetoric ascending from the crowds?

If the Straight Talk Express mutes its mention of Obama’s association with William Ayers over the next week leading to the debate, the GOP base might view McCain as folding under Obama’s challenge- “…he wasn’t willing to say it to my face.”

How does a bona fide alpha maverick justify backing down?

Not to mention that McCain suddenly opting out of the hate would present a clear admittance of guilt and evidence of wrongdoing in the minds of undecided voters. Tisk.

On the other hand, if McCain and Palin continue to incite lunacy along the campaign trail, and McCain again fails to mention Ayers during the final debate, it could serve to solidify the belief that John McCain and integrity, (are more than likely), not mutually exclusive. John McCain has accused Barack Obama of nothing short of travesty in the company of his followers, yet he cannot bring himself to take up the matter with the man, himself.

Of course, finally, if McCain decides to answer Obama’s challenge by introducing the William Ayers association into next week’s debate, voters may possibly see it as a desperate and misplaced move. After all, as Obama remarked to Gibson about McCain, “…he wasn’t willing to say it to my face.”

Really, Obama looks like Joe Pesci (Casino) right now…”Listen to me Anthony. I got your head in a ******* vise.”

Well, figuratively speaking, that is.