(cross-posted at Motley Moose and Clintonistas for Obama)

Straight talk.

Apparently it's a dying art.

John McCain was never a maverick. He was a staunch Republican whose positions deviated from those of his party only on occasion. But the one thing he had going for him was honesty and sincerity. He told the country what he believed and why he believed it, firmly and unapologetically. He stood up for his beliefs even if they were unpopular. He defended his principles. But somewhere along the line John McCain gave up. He sacrificed his principles, he surrendered to the sordid tactics of his party, the tactics he once despised and vocally denounced. To fully understand the magnitude of his fall, one must look back -- a glance at the McCain of a month ago, really, is sufficient to understand the duplicity of his statements and positions, but the differences between the McCain of 2000 and the McCain of 2008 are staggering. A brief list compiled by blogger Alex Valentine shows the stark contrast between the two McCains:

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Over at Jack and Jill and Field Negro, a point about the late Jerry Falwell is being made that has escaped the mainstream media. Namely, his support of segregation and his opposition to miscegenation, as well his support of South African Apartheid.

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When I heard the news, my head exploded with strip ideas. I couldn't decide which to do so I put them in a short series.

One of the most hateful men in America is now dead. What are politicians saying?

Dr. Falwell was a man of distinguished accomplishment who devoted his life to serving his faith and country." Sen. John McCain

How did he serve? Teaching hate and intolerance to Americans under the guise of "religion."

"An American who built and led a movement based on strong principles and strong faith has left us." Mitt Romney

We all have great respect for him." Rudy Giuliani.

Uh, Rudy, some of us don't. Do you also respect Pol Pot? David Duke? Fred Phelps maybe?

Falwell will only be missed by the worst of us and you must be one of them.

To see the all four strips in the series hit the flip.

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The Rev. Jerry Falwell has died at age 73, The Associated Press reports.

http://cnn.com
http://bluesunbelt.com/showDiary.do?diar yId=578

Earlier AP Report
The Rev. Jerry Falwell was found unconscious in his office today and taken to a hospital, a Liberty University executive told a newspaper. Ron Godwin, the executive vice president of Falwell's Liberty University, said Falwell was found unresponsive around 10:45 a.m. and taken to Lynchburg General Hospital. Godwin said he was not sure what caused the collapse, but said Falwell "has a history of heart challenges."

http://apnews.myway.com//article/2007051 5/D8P4UINO0.html

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The more things change ...

GOP Shadow candidate Newt Gingrich has gotten into bed -- once again -- with the hatemongers in the Republican religious right.  Both Jerry Falwell and James Dobson (two disgraceful public figures) have made a point to heap praise on the disgraced former speaker.

Jerry Falwell has a piece up on his Moral Majority website, entitled "Why I Asked Newt Gingrich to Speak at Liberty's Graduation" in which he writes about Newt: "I have been very impressed with the spiritual maturity of this man and am convinced that he has been honest and forthright in clarifying his past failings and his quest, as a Christian, for God's forgiveness."

And, the equally disgusting James Dobson heaped lovers praise on Gingrich (while disparaging the potential candidacy of Fred Thompson, who apparently hasn't kissed Dobson's ego -- err, ring -- enough as of late).  Writes U.S. News:

"While making it clear he was not endorsing any Republican presidential candidate, Dobson, who is considered the most politically powerful evangelical figure in the country, also said that Gingrich was the "brightest guy out there" and "the most articulate politician on the scene today."

Are there any more transparent (or for that matter sinister) people in American politics today than Dobson, Falwell, Robertson and the rest of the hatemonger gang?  Dobson, Falwell et. al. continue to stop at nothing in their thirst for power and relevency.  We should all pay close attention to which candidates sell out to these fools.

 
CROSS POSTED ON BLOG.NJDC.ORG