Are Political Opponents Enemies?

America will have a stark choice in the 2010 and 2012 elections. Reward those who treat their political opponents with respect, or side with heavy-handed bullies who treat their opponents like enemies. On the right, Governor Palin speaks with Alaskans protesting her actions. On the left, Jim Messina, Deputy Chief of Staff to Rahm Emanuel. He is the White House Representative who told Democratic Senators at a closed-doors meeting on Health Care Communications Strategy, "If you get hit, we'll punch back twice as hard." Though he may have been referring to competing political ads, the White House attitude toward opponents comes though loud and clear.

John Sweeney calling on union members to show up at town meetings shows the Dems willingness to intimidate rather than persuade. And surely persuasion doesn't come easily to a President who likes to let others work out the details of his proposals. All the better if evasion is your main message.