Quote of the day

The crowds at John McCain's rallies are mad as hell, and they're not going to take it anymore.

Published October 9, 2008 9:27PM (EDT)

This incident, a question asked at a recent McCain campaign rally, has been going around the Internet today, and for good reason. It seems to sum up, in one neat package, much of the dynamic of the presidential campaign right now. There's the fear on the right that an Obama administration may now be inevitable -- and anger over that prospect -- combined with the results of the McCain campaign's recent tactics and the conversation in conservative media right now.

Here's the exchange.  A video of it, which you really should watch to fully appreciate this (make sure to note the picture of Bill Ayers that Fox News includes at the right of the screen), is at the bottom of this post.

Question: I'm mad. I'm really mad. And what's going on won't surprise you. It's not the economy. It's the socialists taking over our country.

[Applause]

Sit down. I'm not done.

[Applause]

Thank you.

McCain: You're going -- you're going to have to give me ...

Question: When I see ...

McCain: Go ahead.

Question: Let me finish, please.

McCain: Yes, sir.

[Laughter]

McCain: Excuse me.

[Laughter]

Question: Thank you. I think it's so important in today's country what we're really missing in what's going on. When you have an Obama, Pelosi and the rest of the hooligans up there going to run this country, we've got to have our head examined. It's time that you two are representing us, and we are mad. So go get them.

Audience: USA, USA, USA.

McCain: Well, I -- I think I got the message.

Could I -- could I just say the gentleman is right. The Democrats have been in the majority for the last two years. Have you seen any improvement? The point is -- but Americans are angry, sir. They're angry and frustrated. And that's why we've got to act, and we've got to act together because all of us are Americans first.


By Alex Koppelman

Alex Koppelman is a staff writer for Salon.

MORE FROM Alex Koppelman


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

2008 Elections Barack Obama John Mccain R-ariz.