The L-word, 2008 version

Some of us remember how George H.W. Bush, back in 1988, characterized Michael Dukakis as a card-carrying member of the ACLU. It was a thinly veiled attempt to associate the Democratic presidential candidate with liberalism and everything else wrong with America.

We knew it wouldn't take long for similar gems to find their way into this year's presidential campaign, and John McCain doesn't disappoint, as described by the Kansas City Star (h/t Halperin):

“I think we should change (Obama’s slogan) to ‘no, we can’t,’ ” McCain told the crowd.

He also said Obama had the “most extreme” record in the Senate.

Asked later if he thought Obama was an extremist, McCain said: “His voting record … is more to the left than the announced socialist in the United States Senate, Bernie Sanders of Vermont.”

Does McCain think Obama is a socialist? “I don’t know. All I know is his voting record, and that’s what people usually judge their elected representatives by.”

Obama’s campaign, in a statement: “John McCain squandered an opportunity to talk with Missourians about solutions to our economic problems and chose instead to launch the same old tired political attacks that the American people are sick of.”

Strap on your seatbelts. We can expect a lot more of this kind of back and forth.