McCain Can’t Plead Ignorance in the Age of Google — Nobody Can
Thought provoking article as usual, Brad. However, I can’t agree with your conclusions that there is an implicit guilt by association assumed by a candidate whenever someone associated with his campaign is discovered to have said or done something stupid, and that, in this Google age, it is inexcusable for him not to have known his associate had done so. By that lofty measure, any future candidate might just as well put a gun to his head the moment he decides to run for office. Everyone is guilty of misjudgment or wrongheadedness from time to time. Even some of the most extreme crimes have statutes of limitation placed on them. Stupid, insensitive comments are forms of Constitutionally protected speech, not crimes and misdemeanors. They are punishable by the loss of an election as it was in Williams’ case 18 years ago. Yielding to “bushwhack politics” makes for cowards in office. In my opinion, McCain showed his cowardice by withdrawing from this event over this issue. Give me an honest, courageous, even “politically incorrect” candidate anytime.
By the way, I really like the photo you used in your header: Just the observational angle most of us will ever have.
