Obama Joins McCain (like Pelosi did with Gingrich)

Something about this Obama-McCain 9/11 commemoration meetup just doesn’t sit right with me…their joint statement sure sounds nice, but what will the outcome be?...."All of us came together on 9/11 — not as Democrats or Republicans — but as Americans. In smoke-filled corridors and on the steps of the Capitol; at blood banks and at vigils — we were united as one American family. On Thursday, we will put aside politics and come together to renew that unity, to honor the memory of each and every American who died, and to grieve with the families and friends who lost loved ones. We will also give thanks for the firefighters, police and emergency responders who set a heroic example of selfless service, and for the men and women who serve today in defense of the freedom and security that came under attack in New York City, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pa."

It’s like the advertisement where Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich are sitting on a couch talking about unity. I feel like retching every time I see it.

Regardless, might as well make lemonade out of lemons. This is a perfect opportunity for Obama to effectively demonstrate that what brought New York City back to its feet was not politics and politicians. It was everyday folks who cared about their community – yes, it was COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS who did the real hard work and suffered the most. Firefighters, policemen, and emergency responders are community organizers (or components thereof). When Bush said the best thing you can do in the face of this onslaught was to go shopping, it was community groups who were silently, without fanfare picking up the pieces of this tragedy. It was everyday folks who responded from all over the country to a call for duty. Meanwhile, war profiteers like Giuliani were turning 9/11 into a selfish, despicable opportunity to cash in with book deals, lucrative speech circuit tours and faux patriotism (don’t forget how he mocked and derided community workers during his Republican Convention speech).

If Obama must meet McCain in New York City then he must also take a stand, raise these issues and do it on his own terms. Otherwise, he will find himself at the beck and call of Rove and his ilk who are already spinning some new conservative lie about Obama’s lack of spine, integrity, and commitment to our troops and to our country. Just wait and see....I guarantee that a new advertisement (approved or not approved by the McCain campaign) will surface soon thereafter and it will go something like this - Reverend Wright screaming at the pulpit about how America deserved 9/11; a shot of Obama by McCain’s side at the 9/11 site; ominous music will accompany tragic scenes; and a final bold print script will state – “which of these men do you really trust to take care of this nation, your family and our troops.”

This is guaranteed folks – absolutely 100% guaranteed.