The article submission queue here at OEN has experienced an increasing flow of anti-Obama articles that are ugly, and border on desperate. Often, the articles are poorly written, and don’t bother to enumerate any specific reasons why people should not vote for Obama.

Barack Obama isn’t the official candidate of the Democratic party yet, but the Republican attacks are coming rapidly, and with typical Republican venom and innuendo. The perennial “swift boat” defamation of the presumptive candidate is already in full swing.

The desperation is predicated on the simple fact that Barack Obama is a very popular candidate who draws huge crowds, and who is bringing young people into politics at unprecedented levels, whereas John McCain is a flip-flopping, unpopular, lobbyist-tied Republican in an election year when Republicans are as popular as warts. This fact is certain to bring out the worst in Republicans who are not known for their statesmanship, comity or fair play.

One article that was rejected at OEN this morning was quite telling with regard to the desperation and near panic that has become emblematic of McCain supporters. The article was addressed to Hillary Clinton supporters, and was a plea to them to not write-in Clinton in the upcoming election because that would be as good as a vote for Barack Obama. The article urged Hillary Clinton supporters to go to John McCain's website to try to find one or two points on which they can agree with him. No mention was made of why Clinton supporters should not vote for Obama other than to call him “the enemy”.

The author explains his thesis to Clinton supporters thusly: “Please go to McCain’s web site, or read articles about him - try to find something in his platform that appeals to you so that you won’t feel like you’re selling your soul (yes, that very soul which MO claims BO will heal for you - insert emoticon of disgust here…)”.

“Try to find something in his platform that appeals to you …” ANYTHING! The desperation is palpable.

I have some alternate advice for Hillary Clinton supporters. Go to Barack Obama’s website, and you will find many things there that you can agree with ranging from affordable health care coverage, to ending the war in Iraq, to fixing our broken election system. Plus, unlike Washington-insider, lobbyist-loving John McCain, Barack Obama has not taken money from PACs or lobbyists. He gets his funding primarily from We the People.

2008 will almost certainly turn out to be the most vicious election cycle in recent US history. The Republicans are like a wounded, cornered animal, and they will do anything to win. The Swift boating of John Kerry will pale in retrospect. But unlike John Kerry, Barack Obama will fight back, and if enough young people turn out he will beat John McCain in a landslide.