I've Got a Bad Feeling About This

Daniel Larison, guesting for Sullivan, puts words to my own growing feeling of unease about this election:

Back in January, the media criticized McCain for his lies about Romney, but ultimately forgave him on the twisted grounds that he doesn't enjoy lying, and so he remained their hero. The same will happen concerning McCain's lies about Obama. Meanwhile, McCain will suffer more damage from sustained media criticism that he is supposedly trafficking in racist tropes, despite the self-evident absurdity of the charge. The phony controversy about the alleged racism in McCain's horrible ads will distract attention from their insipid quality, but it will still generally work to McCain's detriment if journalists accept the idea that McCain's campaign is trying to promote or use racism in the election. If their response to the accusations against the Clintons is any indication, many will accept this idea, and Obama will profit from this sort of scurrilous charge. One thing seems likely: as I guessed a few months ago, the election will turn heavily on the biography and character of the candidates, and it will therefore be one of the more divisive and unpleasant general election campaigns we have experienced.

I don't agree that the Clintons were blameless in the race department, but I do agree that Obama benefits whenever these (fake or not) race controversies -- it reinforces to the point of mythology the idea that this election is a national referendum on whether or not we're all racists. I never thought I'd pine for a Clinton-Romney contest, but at least I could enjoy watching them tear each other down.