Politics of Fear

In an October 10, 2008 campaign event now thought to depict John McCain in a good light, a woman in the audience said she could not vote for Barack Obama because "he's an Arab." McCain shook his head and said, "No ma'am, he's a decent family man, a citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that's what this campaign is all about." Later, however, McCain brought up Obama's alleged association with William Ayers, a 1960's radical. So much for Mr. Nice Guy.

Yesterday, in a column for Huffington Post, Robert Reich says "The biggest motivator in this election isn't enthusiasm about either of the candidates. The Republican base has never particularly liked Romney, and many Democrats have been disappointed in Obama. The biggest motivator is fear of the other guy."

Reich goes on to say, "Republicans are well-practiced in the politics of fear and the logistics of the big lie. The challenge for Obama and Biden and for the rest of us over the next four weeks is to counter their fearsome lies with the truth."