The REAL Reason Behind The Softening of McCain's Tone?

[georgecolombo]

Give how humiliating it must be for McCain to try to walk this back, I've got to conclude that it's more than polling data that's behind his reversal of course. Do you think it's possible that the Secret Service told McCain to cut it out?

[Essene]

1. republicans were openly jumping ship the last 2 days because of his rallies and rhetoric

I have no doubt he'd have kept going if they hadn't.

It was a calculated risk... calculating heat... and calculated withdrawal.

[monmouth]

2. Most definitely...n/t

[knowbody0]

3. plus he knew about the report

he's aware miss moose might have to go, without her, he's nothing. his wife is a fragile pill popping zombie that no one cares about. he's toast.

[eleny]

4. I agree

Hubby and I were just discussing this. I believe that McCain had some cold, hard facts pointed out to him and he shit a brick.

[Schulzz]

5. IF he said these things because he knew he had lost

I would have some respect for him again. But I doubt it very much...

[TexasObserver]

6. Probably both. I wondered if the Secret Service agents might be reporting what they were seeing.

I would think so.

And as for the polls, yeah, I'm sure they show that this direction is a bad one for McCain.

His only hope is to try to find the guy who used to stand for something besides being a GOP shithead who wanted the presidency more than anything.

[mvd]

7. Exactly my thoughts

He knows Obama has a really good chance now and even McSame doesn't want Obama in danger.

[Motown_Johnny]

8. Obama told him to "Say it to my face" and he knows he can't measure up to that

he blinked

[crankychatter]

27. best take yet - maybe the best thing I've read since I've been on DU

you sir (or madame)... have spun that nail and hit it on the noggin

[WeDidIt]

9. I don;t think they told him to cut it out

I think they simply showed him the list of credible threats to Barack's life before and the list after the "terrorist" rhetoric started.

I think they further explained how, should Obama ever be assassinated, this information would be made public and would forever be linked directly to him.

Finally, I think that scared the living shit out of him and he realized how incredibly courageous Barack Obama truly is to face a threat that is probably magnitudes of order higher than the threat he faces, a threat that convinced him he did, in fact, need Secret Service protection after claiming he would not accept it.

[Eric J in MN]

10. Definite possibility. NT

NT

[dgibby]

11. A lot of DUer's

have written, called, and e-mailed a lot of significant people, ie, Congress, Secret Service, FBI, the media, prominent republicans, etc. Basically, we turned up the heat,and while it may not be the reason, it sure didn't hurt.

[abburdlen]

12. Obama calling him out to say it to his face

had a lot to do with it.
At the next debate McCain knew he didn't have the guts to make his accusation with Obama standing right there - he has to start backing down.

[TheDonkey]

13. No. It is fear for when he returns back to DC. Completely alienated and shunned

he knows it isn't working in the polls but only putting a bullseye on his back.

[Demobrat]

14. I think it was just a cynical attempt to appear gracious

as it appears to be working for Obama.

[soccermomforobama]

15. I was thinking that same thing earlier today

[Ikonoklast]

16. Some of the GOP'ers that swing a big d...wallet let him know

That his tactics were losing them money, voters, and the next presidential bid.

They've already written this one off.

[COLGATE4]

20. Lawrence O'Donnell on Olbermann

Lawrence O'Donnell on Olbermann tonite (w/ David Shuster) says that he's backing off because his own internal polls are showing that he's losing ground with these attacks. O'Donnell predicted last week that erratic McSame is always impatient and impulsive, and as soon as he thinks something isn't working, jumps immediately to something else. I think this is what happened - he's changing tunes again, to the disgust of much of his staff and supporters. I love it - it's a LOSE-LOSE for McSame!:evilgrin:

[Number23]

22. You're exactly right

Some of the GOP'ers that swing a big d...wallet let him know

I have no doubt it was McCain's fellow Repubs who told him to cut the crap. That he was making a fool out of himself and dragging the party a few feet further down the hole that Bush already threw them in.

Note to all future Repubs: Any candidate, strategy or tactics that make Freepers happy (i.e. selecting a barely literate running mate or hinting that your opponent is a "terrorist") will be capital B-A-D for not only your party but the whole country.

[defendandprotect]

17. I think a lot of complaints to the "press" and officials was effective and we should . . .

KEEP AT IT, FOLKS -- !!!

[stillcool]

18. boomerang..

[northernlights]

19. Obama challenged him to say it to his face

plus over a week ago, even Rove said he was going too far. And that was before the thugs started yelling "kill him! kill him!"

I think the rethug party heads told him to cool it. The secret service told him to cool it.

And he doesn't dare say it to Obama's face in the debates.

I saw the video clip and I do think he realizes he's done. He tried to change the subject from the economy, and the market tanked and his polls sank. Now, if he doesn't give his base their "hit," they'll turn on him (or at best stay home). If he does it on national t.v., he'll lose whatever confused independents are too busy watching their 401Ks vaporize to have noticed up until now.

[Tatiana]

21. He's jeopardizing Republican downticket races.

Newt Gingrich probably told him to cut it down.

[KewlKat]

23. Maybe he had an advance copy of the Alaska report.......? n/t

[demokatgurrl]

24. I think he was getting shit from a lot of people

including his fellow Repuke office-holders. And he probably got a ton of mail- I sent him a lovely screed via e-mail.

[Raschel]

26. Yep. He was pressured. Plain and simple.

He's not honorable and all he cares about is getting the prize he thinks he deserves.

[Imagevision]

25. Notice? Mccain wasn't smiling today... negative ads = Obama wins!

[Historic NY]

28. He saw his poll numbers shrinking the more he piled it on.

[ladjf]

29. My guess is that the Secret Service "fired a warning shot" to McCain.

[TarHeelinGeorgia]

30. People. Think more sinister.

They get this out of the way now. It's still 4 weeks until the election. They plant the seed in the low-info voters' heads that Obama is associated with "terrorists". But in a couple weeks we can't tie it to McCain or Palin because now they're publicly "denouncing" these people who say things like that Obama is an "Arab". Nothing ever happens at a Republican rally by accident.