McCain 3: Rise of the Machines

As Sam Stein reported earlier today, John McCain appears to be employing the same Robo-call firm that was used to smear him in the 2000, when he ran against President Bush. The firm, FLS-Connect, is currently spreading McCain's message that Barack Obama "worked closely" with Bill Ayers, and therefore may be a threat to America's safety:

Any tie between the McCain campaign and FLS represents an ironic twist of fate and a reflection of just how far the Arizona Republican has moved politically in the last eight years. During the 2000 election, FLS and Larsonhelpled then-presidential candidate Geroge W. Bush smear Mccain during the now-infamous South Carolian primary.

Back then, McCain termed the method used against him "hate calls." Now, it seems, those hate calls are McCain's last remaining card. As Stein mentions in his piece, some Republicans still have big ethical objections with the robo-calls. Maine's Susan Collins released the following statement through a spokesperson:

"These kinds of tactics have no place in Maine politics. Sen. Collins urges the McCain campaign to stop these calls immediately."

But the bait and switch is in full effect. Today, for instance, while thousands of such calls went out across the country, Sarah Palin backed away from her fiery anti-Obama rhetoric, telling reporters:

"I know Obama loves America."

Really? But for weeks she'd been claiming that Obama didn't see America in the right way, and that he palls around with terrorists. She's good cop/bad cop all in one. But then, if Palin takes a break from the pit bull routine, there's always a surrogate or two to fill in with the nasty. Take Michele Bachmann, for instance, who'd like to round up the anti-American crowd ala Joe McCarthy. That's right liberals need not apply for government positions according to Bachmann, because every one of them hates America. Video here.

Since John McCain claims he has denounced every single instance of outrageous fear-mongering in this campaign to date, I'm sure we'll be hearing him put Bachmann in her place. Then again, he's the guy following the Terminator strategy to try and frighten the beJesus out of every swing state voter in the country, so don't hold your breath.