1340 AM, Saturday, November 7th, 2009

Who's Election Is It Anyway?

Last night at a joint appearance at a charity event, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama really lit into each other. They attacked each other’s character, their associations, and their ability to lead.

But was this event a good idea or a bad idea?

Scurrilous attacks were levied at the Alfred E. Smith dinner last night in New York City. John McCain got after Obama's associations. Barack Obama waged war against McCain's advanced age. All in front of a Catholic charity in honor of a 4-term New York governor, and the first ever Catholic candidate for President of the United States.

So what's the verdict? Good Idea

I know what you're thinking. You're listening to this saying, "Hey, wait just a gall darn minute there, Metzger. Weren't you just saying the past few weeks that all these negative campaign attacks were harmful to our politics?"

Well, yes, I was. But here's the difference. Last night's attacks sounded like this:

Obama:

I obviously never knew your great grandfather [Al Smith], but from everything Senator McCain has told me [crowd laughs]...I heard they had a great time together before prohibition.

McCain:

...After all, it began so long ago with the heralded arrival of a man known by Oprah Winfrey as "the one." Being a friend and colleague of Barack, I just called him "That One!"

Obama:

Many of you know I got my name, Barack, from my father. What you may not know is Barack is actually Swahili for "That One." And I got my middle name from somebody who obviously didn't think I'd ever run for president."

McCain:

...But already, my friends, my opponents have been submitting Joe [the Plumber] to their vicious attack machine. His veracity has been questioned by Barack Obama's running mate, Joe the Six-Term Senator. He claims that this honest, hardworking businessman could not possibly have enough income to face a tax increase under the Obama plan. What they don't know is that Joe the Plumber recently signed a very lucrative contract with a wealthy couple to handle all the work on all 7 of their houses!"

I don't know about you, but I really needed these moments of levity. In a campaign that has gone past the "negative" barrier and into downright ugly, taking a moment to lighten up, relieve some tension, and have a laugh provided relief for a political junkie like me. The best part was how the Al Smith dinner reminded us McCain and Obama are still real people.

Frankly, I think Senator McCain should modify his proposal to have a series of joint Town Hall meetings with Senator Obama and perhaps invite Drew Carrey and Ryan Stiles along and do a series of improv political productions in the style of the old ABC hit show "Who's Line is it Anyway?"

Personally, I would suggest doing games such as Healthcare Proposals from a Hat, or make the two debate the economy while singing in the style of a power ballad, and end each one with a Foreign Policy Hoedown.