Barack Obama hangs out with anti-American Muslims . . .
Sarah Palin hangs out with Pat Buchanan . . .
Whats good for the goose is good for the gander. Or, rather, the other way around: When a ridiculous claim is made on one side of the political aisle, its equally ridiculous to make it on the other side.
We have decried the attempt to associate Barack Obama, a Democrat, with a variety of smears. We decry the attempt to associate Sarah Palin, a Republican, with Pat Buchanan and other sordidities.
Democratic presidential candidate Obama should be congratulated for taking a clear and decent stance regarding his rivals vice presidential candidate, Palin.
If anybody on his campaign staff tries to make political hay out of Governor Palins family situation he would promptly fire them, Obama said this week.
That sets exactly the right tone for a campaign that we fervently hope will be about the stands on issues that truly divide Obama and John McCain, and not the assorted personal litter, boilerplate smears and other trivia that have become so big a part of the political landscape.
To wit: This weeks false allegation that Palin once supported ultra-rightwinger Pat Buchanan, based on the fact that she once wore a Buchanan button as a courtesy during an appearance in Alaska.
To wit: The more distant, but still recycled, allegations that Obama must be a Muslim because his middle name sounds Arabic.
A variation on the low road: To claim that McCain believes anyone making up to $5 million is middle class, which McCain did say as a joke.
This sort of politicking is childish and malicious, insulting to the candidates and the voters alike, and serves only to obfuscate the very important issues that should be the substance of the 2008 presidential debate.
With both of the big conventions now wrapped up, we hope that both candidates opt for the high road during the home stretch of the campaign. We hope equally that the partisans of each candidate do the same.
Americans can only benefit.
