The Ghouls Come Out

With yesterday's assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan, some commentators wasted no time using the rising chaos to handicap the American presidential race, saying it would be good for this candidate or that candidate. But Fox's John Gibson really has to take the cake. In the "My Word" segment of his TV show last night, he used Bhutto's death to indulge in some good old-fashioned exploitation:

So even though today's carnage was on the other side of the planet, it really did strike close to home, and all Americans should be worried about what happens now. The way Americans can deal with this crisis is to carefully consider their vote. This election is about the same issue the last election was about... the War on Terror. It's not about health care, and as important as our economy is, it's not about that either. We need someone who has the strength of mind and the resolve to see through an ugly fight that will have to be fought. It's not a choice. The people who killed Bhutto would kill you too, and if the next president gives them a chance, they will do it.

Translation: Vote Republican or else.

Gibson obviously thinks that after six solid years of fear-mongering, we still have some terror left in us. But even Republican voters have caught on: Rudy Giuliani's campaign, based solely on 9/11, is sinking fast. Tom Tancredo, who cloaked his nativist bigotry in 9/11 fear, dropped out, and other GOP fear-and-loathing candidates are likewise spinning their wheels.

Expect the rhetoric to get more shrill and desperate as the election campaign grinds on. It's the only way the GOP can possibly win.