An Open Letter

Dear McCain Campaign:

Ever since I was a child, I've watched each of the Olympic games. It was a tradition that began with my father, who taught me when I was in grade school that while it's fine to support the home team, you cheer for everyone. Every athlete who competes at this level has dedicated themselves not only to heightened athletic prowess, but also to a precious ideal - that people from around the world can come together, no matter what their differences in politics, religion or ideology, and revel in friendly competition and a spirit of togetherness. It's a reminder of what we could be if we set aside fear and mistrust, then took the time to learn about each other and start working side by side in the spirit of harmony. I know it's naive, and I know it's hopelessly idealistic, but that's what I get from each and every Olympics. I may not agree with the politics of the hosting country (in fact, I may find them reprehensible), but the Olympics isn't supposed to be about politics anyway. It's supposed to be the epitome of a world WITHOUT politics - or at least, without the sort of politics that do nothing but spread fear and divide people into factions.

So I'm pretty god damn pissed off that you've decided to take this opportunity to run ads - and lots of them - slamming Barak Obama. I know it's a campaign year, and hey, American politics can't function (apparently) without ads that accuse the opposing side of gross incompetence. I haven't seen Obama's ads yet, but I'm fairly sure that he at least has the class to refrain from fearmongering and instead focus on the spirit of unity and goodness that's supposed to be the foundation of this event. Instead, you trot out that idiotic campaign spot that calls Obama "the world's biggest celebrity" before blatantly painting him as a "job killing machine," just like in that leaked memo of yours. The fact that this year's Olympics are being held in a country with an abysmal human rights record was already putting a damper on my spirit, and news of war between Russia and Georgia (that's the Georgia in Europe, Senator McCain), not to mention the murder of an American citizen in Beijing the day after the opening ceremonies, isn't helping either. You could have really scored yourself some points and done something uplifting, but instead you aim for the lowest common denominator and use ads that promote fear, anxiety, and ultimately division. I was doing my best to keep my chin up through all the bad news, but your ad tipped it over the edge for me. My mood is immediately soured every time I see one of them.

But I've decided that I don't want to be mad. I don't want my personal tradition to be ruined by your ads and their bleak negativity, complete with snide voiceovers and subtle implications that for a president to be internationally savvy is at best irrelevant and at worst disloyal. That's why I'm going to do something I have never, ever done before.

I'm going to donate money to a political campaign.

Every time I see one of your sneering, bitter ads during the Olympics, I'm going to donate $1 to Barak Obama. It isn't much, but it's all I can afford. I can only assume that your ads will play once every few commercial breaks, so Senator Obama could end up with a decent amount from me by the time it's all over. In the event that, by some miracle, I only see one or two more of your ads by the time the Games are complete, then I'll add a zero to the end of my sum - I've seen two of your spots tonight, so if I don't see anymore, Senator Obama will get $20. If I see more than four total, it will be the lower (but still symbolic) amount.

I'll be keeping a tally on the magnetic notepad on my fridge. And you know what? I feel better already.

Your move.

-K