McCain Could Be On The Receiving End Of 'Political Karma'

Like it or not, it is only but a few weeks before the 2008 United States Presidential Election comes to a close. Recently, there have been new political attacks against Democratic Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. So far, everything looks to be in Obama’s favor. But, anything and everything can and will change from now and until Election Day which is November 4. Recently, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the VP running-mate to GOP Presidential nominee Senator John McCain of Arizona, had attacked Obama for his ties with William Ayers. Ayers is the founder of the now defunct Weather Underground, which was a radical anti-war group. And yes, the Weather Underground did some pretty “nasty” things out of protest back then. There was also the reemergence of Obama’s connection with the controversial Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Wright is notorious for his “Goddamn America” sermon. However, it does not seem to change the current dynamic of the US Presidential race. According to polls, Obama is still showing strong in several crucial battleground states. A recent poll result from TIME Magazine/CNN shows that Obama is doing strong in states that were won by current US President George W. Bush back in 2000 and 2004. It is unknown what amount of damage these reminders will do to Obama. Perhaps it may do little to no damage. But, this may end up hurting McCain as well. This brings the sense of “political karma.” Karma is like a boomerang effect. What comes around ends up going around. And McCain may be on the receiving end. It has been discovered that McCain may have some connections of his own. In today’s article on the TIME Magazine website, it is revealed that McCain served on the advisory board of the US Council for World Freedom. This group has been linked to Central American death squads that leaned to the far right. This group was stripped of its nonprofit tax exemption by the IRS. This was due to the group aiding rebels that wanted to take down Nicaragua’s leftist government. Keep in mind, McCain served on the advisory board during the 1980s. This group was the US arm of the World Anti-Communist League. And yes, this was still during the Cold War. It was the battle between Capitalism and Communism. The US Council for World Freedom was founded by John Singlaub, a retired Army Major General. It is also revealed that this group is also linked with Nazi collaborators. However Singlaub said that McCain was not active in the group’s activities. But, he said that McCain was a supporter. In addition, he said that McCain was the newbie or rookie that was learning. In addition, Singlaub said that he does not remember telling McCain what the group did. Nearing the mid-80s, McCain had said he resigned from the organization. Later, McCain said that he requested his name to be removed from the group. A few years earlier, McCain was elected into the US House of Representatives. McCain said back in 1986 that he did not know what the group did was legal or illegal. But, Singlaub had things to say that contradict what McCain said. Singlaub said that he does not remember McCain resigning from the group back then. So far, Singlaub has been backed by Joyce Downey, who was in charge of the activities. Downey does not remember McCain resigning back in 1984. A major question comes into mind: Who is telling the truth, Singlaub or McCain? Perhaps this revelation will come back and haunt McCain. Since the connection between Obama and Ayers was brought back up, it would mean that McCain’s connection with that organization is fair game. So yes, unveiling these questionable connections could end up being a sense of political karma. At the same time, it has become a very sharp political double-edged sword. Perhaps this connection could be brought up at tonight’s debate. This will be the second US Presidential debate between Obama and McCain. So far, Obama’s connection with Ayers has been brought up again. This time McCain’s connection with a group associated with Nazi collaborators and Central American death squads has been unearthed. This brings up another interesting question: Which connection is more damaging? Hopefully tonight’s debate and the rest of the election race will become more intense.