Soccer Dad

A little class

Milwaukee's Journal-Sentinel reports (via memeorandum):

In fact, while Feingold supports his fellow Democrat Barack Obama for president, he continues to express (when asked) his affection and admiration for McCain, even in ways that deviate from his party's core strategy against the Arizona Republican, which is to paint him as a clone of President Bush, and a "maverick no more."

Feingold calls McCain "very original" and a "maverick by nature." McCain's own TV ads call him the "original maverick."

"I'd rather have Obama for many, many reasons," Feingold said, citing his deep differences with McCain over foreign policy, health care and civil liberties, and his belief that Obama could be an inspirational president.

He also is critical of McCain's campaign, suggesting that its efforts to "tarnish" Obama may end up tarnishing McCain as well.

"But the notion that somehow (McCain) is going to get in there and be some kind of ideological Newt Gingrich right-winger is a joke. There's no way that he would do that," Feingold said.

Russ Feingold, John McCain's friend and partner on campaign finance reform, offers a description of his colleague to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Craig Gilbert that veers sharply from the approved message.

Like McCain, Feingold is known for speaking his mind, sometimes at the expense of his own party. But unlike McCain in the GOP or, say, Lieberman among Dems, Feingold's liberal credentials are unimpeachable.

Which makes his praise all the more tough to dismiss.

There is little with which I would agree with Feingold on. (Including McCain-Feingold!) However his behavior towards McCain shows a level of class totally missing from a previous contender to become the 44th President of the United States.

As I've noted before Sen. Kerry has been rather vicious, personal (and wrong) in his attack on McCain. His gracelessness, given that McCain defended him four years ago, shows a distinct lack of class.

I also have to admit, I don't know how much Feingold's praise will help McCain with the base. Still it's nice to see a Democrat putting friendship ahead of politics.