The bottom line in this last election is that the American voters would rather hear fairy tales and other fuzzy, heart-warming stories that the truth.
McCain lost because he stuck to his truths for the most part, even though some of them weren't popular. Obama told a great tale of hope and change and a utopian lifestyle and he won. Why is that a surprise? The real surprise will be for all those who voted on him based on his tax cut promises and ending the war immediately. Both will probably never come to fruition.
Before everyone jumps on me about McCain not lying, he had his share of flip-flops. however, they weren't on issues like the war, taxes, and other major platforms his campaign was launched on.