(Updated) John & Sarah: We're Waiting

To say that tensions are extremely high on the Republican stump with the race slipping away is an understatement. That the hardest of the hard core are crawling out of the woodwork probably was inevitable.

But there is some pretty ugly acting out, as reported here and here, because of the way that John McCain and Sarah Palin are baiting campaign rally audiences, and the Secret Service is now on the case.

Writes Ta-Nehisi Coates:

"I don't hold McCain or Palin accountable for the incredible hatred that we've seen at their rallies as of late. Let me rephrase--I don't think they're accountable for everything they're knucklehead supporters say, anymore than Obama is accountable for every comment on DailyKos. But they should be shook by the people they're attracting. We are getting a good look at the elements of the base now. These are not people just posting anonymously in internet forums--these are people who literally believe Obama is a terrorist and showing up at rallies. These guys need to watch what they say. Somewhere, slumbering in this country, there are men who aren't clued in that this whole 'terrorist' thing is mere strategy. They have guns, and all their lives they've wanted to be famous. Don't give them a reason. This is still America. We are never that far from the past."

Even if they apparently are now backing off from their guilt-by-association strategy (because it has been such a disaster), it is incumbent on McCain and Palin to state unequivocally that hateful outbursts will not be tolerated and do not reflect their views.

We're waiting.

Photograph by Jewel Samad/AFP-Getty