Is the Long Wait Over?

As a New York Ranger hockey fan it was with great elation that I watched them win the Stanley Cup in 1994 at the end of a grueling march past contenders and a tough seven-game series final. After fifty-four years the announcer shouted over the tumult at Madison Square Garden "the waiting is over...the long wait is over." That exultant cry has been running through my mind repeatedly in recent days as a seemingly unrelated adjunct to the presidential race in its final days.

But it is no coincidence that for a hockey fan and an Obama supporter the last moments in both games are a mix of excitement and apprehension. For as much as one expects one's team to win, there is no certainty. In the case of the Rangers, the heroics were monumental; the win did not come easy. And, as the campaign season winds down, Obama's lead in the polls overall and in a number of battleground states is a hopeful sign, but, as duly noted by his staff and pundits alike, the race is not over. McCain and his surrogates continue their pillaging assault on the political process by defaming their Democratic rival, and sometimes their tactics show results.

As Obama noted recently, it isn't clear how McCain will differ from Bush if elected because ‘he spends so much time talking about me'. Still the Republican campaign has been somewhat successful in spinning its way into the minds of the few remaining undecideds and casting doubt about Obama's loyalty, experience and background - - just enough to keep some of the toss-up states toss-ups. It is embarrassing to watch a once-respected veteran and legislator forswear truth, honor and decency to pursue his ambition. Whatever his intentions, which may be honorable enough inside his head, the fact is that McCain has stooped to conquer, and should he end up winning, the country will be the poorer for his victory.

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough keeps trying to make the case that media coverage has been unfairly slanted in favor of Obama and overly-critical of McCain and Palin. But McCain held the media's ear far longer than seemed warranted, and wherever one's loyalties reside, the press goes where the story takes it. Palin made a splash, and Republicans exulted in the rush of publicity that accompanied her - - until she proved to be ill-prepared for the vice presidency and useful mainly as a down-home attack dog.

And has anyone else tired of the personal McCain story? "I've served my country since I was seventeen, and I've got the scars to prove it" is a tale told by someone who often appears to be losing it. The press has given him more than the benefit of the doubt and gone easy on him over some of his gaffes, especially the one lately where he spoke to "my fellow prisoners." If that doesn't give voters pause I guess nothing will, but fair to his side? - - more than fair to him but not addressing emotional factors that might help voters decide if this is someone fit to serve as Commander-in-Chief.

The topper and most embarrassing aspect of a low-road campaign is McCain's embrace of "Joe the Plumber."  A respectable candidate would think long and hard before choosing such a dubious standard-bearer. The campaign castigates the press for ‘investigating' their guy, but isn't that what happens when someone is promoted the way Joe has been? It is one thing for some oddball street person to make the outrageous statement that electing Obama would mean the destruction of Israel, but when that someone becomes a celebrated surrogate, that's a game changer; and when McCain says he'll take Joe to Washington with him it's hard to avoid making a value judgment about his inability to choose consorts in an intelligent, well-informed manner.

Whatever final judgments are to be made the election is upon us, and I keep hoping to hear someone say "finally the long wait is over" when the votes come in. It won't have been fifty-four years, but it has been far too long since we could point with pride to our leaders and feel comfortable about entrusting them with the formidable task of guiding the country through tumultuous times.