McCain's Song Stylings: How Inappropriate Were They?

I have a general rule for my politicians. I take it as read that they're going to spin things, twist things, do whatever they can to keep themselves afloat. I only ask that they do so in a gentlemanly and conscientious manner. The last thing that I like to see is my politicians acting like arrogant frat boys (and yes, I am specifying a specific kind of frat boy here; I know there are a great number of them who are really great guys). I realize that this puts me at odds with a great number of Americans, those who voted for Bush because he comes across as a neighborly, congenial everyman (and yes, I am specifying a specific type of Bush voter here; I know there are a great number of reasons to have voted for him, some more valid than others). It's the sort of divide that I think needs to naturally occur between people in power and their underlings. I think certain jokes are perfectly appropriate between colleagues of a similar employment level and understanding; those same jokes can become widely offensive when conducted between a boss and an employee. Call it unfair, say that it's hierarchical-you're probably right. I also think it's safe and respectful. After all, threatening someone in a professional setting, even in a joking manner, isn't just joking-it's harassment.

The reality of the world of politicians is, it's a professional setting. When John McCain jokes about bombing a country that is the facing the very real possibility of that same thing happening, when he wants to be elected to the position that could make such an action reality, that's not joking. That's bullying. And that image of Americans-disrespectful bullies-is an image that is already rampant across the world. By making his off-the-cuff response, which has the air of being less off-the-cuff and more the kind of joke told before to great success in private company, John McCain may have greatly hurt his chances of being elected president of the United States.

And for good reason: whether you agree that the joke is tasteless or not (and, more over, whether you found his singing humorous or not), John McCain was not among friends. John McCain was not quipping something that would make a crowd of his peers laugh and then just as easily be forgotten. In running for the presidency, John McCain is in the strange position of seeking a job where he will be hired by the very people he will be expected to lead. Every time he steps out in public, it as if he is attending a job interview. Now, imagine hiring someone for your company who makes a flagrant joke in the interview about another company that you compete with. Potentially okay among your company. Say he does so at a public event with representatives of that company present. How would you respond?

Americans in their response to John McCain's small act of silliness need to be careful. The condoning of John McCain's choice of public joke sends a very powerful message, and we need to decide whether it's the one we want to send.