Character Counts

I'll admit that this election is slipping away for John McCain. His campaign has had some missteps lately. They have been slow to react to events. The candidate himself has been off point and unable to connect. But, for the most part, he has been a victim of circumstance. A feeble economy is a severe drag on the party that occupies 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

All of these events have made me more resolute. I am fully prepared to go down with the ship. But I will keep a stiff upper lip, and, as Winston Churchill said, "never, ever give up". This steadfastness is in stark contrast to the emotionally shallow left. I recall reading news articles in the days following the 2004 election about Kerry supporters, so overwhelmed with despair at Bush's reelection, flocking to psychiatrist offices by the thousands. Well, I don't have a therapist on speed dial, nor will I need one. I know a thing or two about disappointment. I'm a Philadelphia sports fan.

This brings me to another severe character flaw on the left - a severe lack of common courtesy.

CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds has spent most of the last year traveling with the Obama campaign. He recently moved over to the McCain campaign and wrote a recent article about the behind the scenes differences between the two. He writes that Obama's "national headquarters in Chicago airily dismisses complaints from journalists wondering why a schedule cannot be printed up or at least e-mailed in time to make coverage plans." He also says that "aides who deal with the national reporters on the campaign plane are often overwhelmed, overworked and un-informed about where, when, why or how the candidate is moving about."

And this little tidbit doesn't seem very environmentally friendly - "I would love to have someone from Obama's campaign explain why the entire press corps, the Secret Service, and the local police idled for two hours in a Miami hotel parking lot recently because there was nothing to do and nowhere to go." Mr. Reynolds states that incidents like this are not isolated.

He contrasts these with the McCain campaign, saying:

"The McCain folks are more helpful and generally friendly. The schedules are printed on actual books you can hold in your hand, read, and then plan accordingly. The press aides are more knowledgeable and useful to us in the news media. The events are designed with a better eye, and for the simple needs of the press corps. When he is available, John McCain is friendly and loquacious."

As for Obama's give and take with the press:

"Obama holds news conferences, but seldom banters with the reporters who've been following him for thousands of miles around the country."

Oh, and Obama's campaign plane stinks.

There is much more. I encourage you to read it here.

Hmmm, sitting around, idling, because there is nothing to do or nowhere to go. Why do I feel this is a portent of what is to come over the next four years?