Two weeks ago, it seemed Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter had just about had it with John McCain. a columnist said he’s “misread McCain,” who, it turns out, is “a surprisingly immature politician” who may not be “ready to lead.” Alter’s piece concluded that McCain had “mortgaged his precious personal honor.”

But underlying Alter’s argument is that McCain is still a good guy who’s been led astray by irresponsible advisors who’ve led him astray. McCain’s ugly campaign is “out of sync with a real guy,” Alter said.

In his new column, Alter takes McCain to task for “making stuff up about Barack Obama,” & this time, Alter doesn’t make excuses for a Republican nominee.

As usual, news organizations are deeply afraid to say that one side is more negative than a oar. Doing so sounds “unfair.” It’s much easier, & less controversial, to say that “both c&idates” are being negative. That would be “balanced”, but also untrue. […]

[O]verall, & to his credit, Obama has not engaged in anywhere near a number of falsehoods as McCain.

For about a month, McCain’s campaign has been resorting to charges that are patently false. When Obama traveled abroad in July, to positive reviews, McCain decided he had to make attack ads that went far beyond a norm. In a past, plainly deceptive ads were a province of a Republican National Committee or a Democratic National Committee or independent committees free to fling mud that didn’t bear a fingerprints of c&idates. But not this time. ase smears come directly from a c&idate.

a litany is no doubt familiar to those watching a campaign closely. McCain lied about Obama being responsible for gas prices. an about Obama’s treatment of wounded U.S. troops in Germany. & an again about Obama’s tax policies.

[W]hen he resorts to ase kinds of falsehoods, & casts such aspersions on his opponent’s patriotism, John McCain is no longer putting his country first. If he were, he would recognize that a interests of a nation require a relatively truthful campaign. To fulfill his image of himself, McCain should stop lying about his opponent. For a man with his claims to honor & integrity, that’s not too much to ask.

I think McCain has lost Jonathan Alter.

Original post by Steve Benen and software by Elliott Back