Profiles in Courage?

Back in the day, when we used to watch Countdown, Mr. Olbermann had a running story about how Bush played the terror card to stop the momentum of Senator Kerry during his presidential bid.

Does this sound familiar?

Senator Clinton soundly defeats Senator Obama in West Virginia. The following day Edwards and NARAL announce their endorsement for Senator Obama.

Senator Clinton wins Ohio. Two or three superdelegates come out for Obama.

Senator Clinton wins Pennsylvania. Two or three superdelegates announce their support for Obama.

David Broder had an interesting piece in the Washington Post about Jack Kennedy's 1960 campaign. Jack Kennedy went to West Virginia and campaigned hard even though he was projected to lose. He convinced anti-Catholics that he was the better choice. He compared Kennedy's campaign to Obama's. Obama decided not to talk to the people of West Virginia. What happened to his promise to unite and talk to everyone?

One commenter pointed out the Senator McCain went to Selma (the first Republican Presidential candidate to do so.)

I read about McCain's visit to Selma and also his visit to Memphis. Regarding his visit to Memphis, I thought, McCain is a lunatic, he's gonna get chewed up and spit out. I read how the crowd of several hundred African Americans in Memphis that day yelled at him, taunted him, called him a liar. When McCain talked about how he was sorry for not voting for the MLK holiday, one black man toward the front said, "It's okay, we all need some forgiveness every now and then." That's what I will remember about his Memphis visit, a white man standing near the balcony where MLK was shot dead and a black man acknowledging McCain's mistake and forgiving him.

Lest we forget, Senator Obama took his name of the ballot in Michigan because he thought he was going to lose. He didn't bother campaigning in person (except for one visit) in West Virginia because he was going to lose. (He actually outspent Senator Clinton in the state 2-1.)

How can we support someone for President who doesn't bother showing up unless he's guaranteed a win? How does that translate into someone willing to go to the mat for us with all the problems coming down the pike? Where's the courage in that?