Swamp: "They used to call it rabble rousing" said Gergen, who teaches at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
The Huffington Post is also reporting that former McCain strategist John Weaver is warning the Republican nominee as well.
"People need to understand, for moral reasons and the protection of our civil society, the differences with Senator Obama are ideological, based on clear differences on policy and a lack of experience compared to Senator McCain," Weaver said. "And from a purely practical political vantage point, please find me a swing voter, an undecided independent, or a torn female voter that finds an angry mob mentality attractive."
As my colleague Jim Oliphant wrote earlier, there are very real concerns that the kind of animosities now being stoked for political purposes could lead to violence against Obama or others.
Before Harold Washington was elected Chicago's first black mayor in 1993, I'm told there were similar worries and tensions. I wonder if the McCain campaign will start running "Vote for McCain ... Before it's too late" ads like those run by Washington's rival, Bernie Epton?
I wonder when Palin's going to figure out that she's ruined McCain
HuffPo: John Weaver, John McCain's former top strategist, says the Republican candidate is making both a moral and a a tactical mistake by letting abusive hecklers have free rein at rallies:
"People need to understand, for moral reasons and the protection of our civil society, the differences with Senator Obama are ideological, based on clear differences on policy and a lack of experience compared to Senator McCain," Weaver said. "And from a purely practical political vantage point, please find me a swing voter, an undecided independent, or a torn female voter that finds an angry mob mentality attractive."
One of Washington's longest serving political hands expressed bewilderment and fright over the vitriol coming from McCain-Palin rallies, saying that the anger of the crowds could lead to violence.
