globeandmail.com: The US elections - No more civil words, just outright civil war - by John Ibbitson
No more civil words, just outright civil war - by John Ibbitson
In the waning days of the Pennsylvania primary campaign, Hillary Clinton's camp unleashed a particularly dark television ad. Over images of Pearl Harbor, the stock-market crash, Osama Bin Laden and other calamities, a grim-voiced announcer declared: "Harry Truman said it best: 'If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.' Who do you think has what it takes?" On the night of the primary, Barack Obama was anything but gracious in defeat. He condemned Ms. Clinton for "taking money from Washington lobbyists - from oil lobbyists and drug lobbyists and insurance lobbyists. ... You can't be the champion of working Americans if you're funded by the lobbyists who drown out their voices."
Thus far, the Democrats' protracted primary campaign still appears to be doing the party more good than harm.The Democratic stalemate leaves both Ms. Clinton and Mr. Obama with a choice: continue to escalate their personal attacks, knowing that the Republicans are the ultimate beneficiaries, or raise the bar of civility, at the risk of losing Indiana. The signs all point to escalating attacks, even if it does mean that winning the nomination could cost that winner the election.
Labels: Hillary Clinton, Obama, US elections
