Running While Black

On August 2, 2008, Bob Herbert wrote a pointed op-ed in The New York Times declaring, "Spare me any more drivel about the high-mindedness of John McCain. You knew something was up back in March when, in his first ad of the general campaign, Mr. McCain had himself touted as "the American president Americans have been waiting for."

Herbert went on to list a number of attempts by McCain to position Senator Obama as the Other, "certainly not one of us" through ads that were "foul, poisonous."

Noting that "Mr. Obama has to endure these grotesque insults with a smile," Herbert defended Obama's statements to a Missouri audience that caused McCain to cry RACE CARD! See post on 8/1/12. "Senator McCain is the head of a party that has viciously exploited race for political gain for decades. He's obviously more than willing to continue that nauseating tradition," said Herbert.