“ABC News’ Imtiyaz Delawala Reports: Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin invoked fear for the first time when discussing Sen. Barack Obama’s connection to former 60’s radical William Ayers.

‘I am just so fearful that this is not a man who sees America the way that you and I see America — as the greatest source for good in this world,’ Palin said of Obama to 2,000 supporters at a rally in Clearwater, Florida this morning. “I’m afraid this someone who sees America as imperfect enough to work with a former domestic terrorist who had targeted his own country.’

‘This, ladies and gentlemen, has nothing to do with the kind of change that anyone can believe in, not my kids, not for your kids,’ Palin added.” http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/10/palin-plays-fea.html

With only a month to go before the general election, McCain finds himself behind in all the national polls, and most importantly trailing in all the battleground states. McCain feels he has no choice but to play the fear card, and so once again we are forced to endure the spectacle of GOP gutter politics.

Palin is playing the fear card, she is misrepresenting Obama as a radical with dubious personal associations.

It’s ironic that the McCain camp choose Palin to deliver the opening blow of their campaign of dirty tricks, when nobody inspires more fear than the governor of Alaska.

I tremble when I think of the awful prospect of McCain winning the general election, and then quickly dying. That would leave a woman who isn’t even qualified to be a White House clerical employee as leader of the free world.

The choice is quite clear, should we vote for Obama who represents and embodies hope and change, or should we go with a grouchy old man who resorts to playing the fear card?

Playing the fear card is bad enough, but the McCain card is also subliminally playing the race card. Racists see African Americans as different from other Americans, they are the “other” who think differently and act differently. Palin is arguing that “You and I” (read: Whites) see America one way and Obama sees America another way. Obama like most blacks, Palin is subliminally suggesting, is criminally-minded and likely to pal around with other scum like terrorists.

Reckless and desperate politicians rely on fear and racism to inspire citizens to vote for them, and statesmen trust in the goodness of the American people.

Vote for hope and change, and say no to fear and racism by voting for Obama the first Tuesday in November.