Shaheen was wrong to bring up Obama's drug use under any circumstances, but he was right in noting that the Republicans will use it against Obama if he wins the nomination. Romney already has. Indeed, by the time the Republicans get through lying about Obama the way they did about the Clintons Obama will have been converted into a major drug lord selling crack to grade school kids at the behest of his African muslim jihadist grandfather, who of course doesn't exist either. The Republicans will tell ANY LIE about any Democrat to regain power and feed at the public trough again. Democrats need to focus on the Republicans, which unfortunately none of them have recently. Edwards went after Clinton, then Obama went after Clinton, then Clinton hit back. Now Democrats are giving aid to the enemy with those attacks, when any of them will be better than any Republican.

Linda

After the personal attacks, ie she's corrupt, on her by Edwards and Obama this holier than thou attitude is annoying. What is even more annoying is the vitriol and sanctimony with which Edwards, Obama and their supports are attacking Clinton. She has worked her whole adult life to make things better for children, the poor, and the middle class, passing up plenty of opportunities to get rich. She worked at the Children's Defense Fund, she gave up her share of Rose law firm profits so she could do work on education and health for the poor in Arkansas. She and President Clinton campaigned for George McGovern in Texas for God's sake. She is not perfect, but she does not deserve the venom from people who only knowledge of her comes from the Republican smear machine through their tools in the MSM. Moreover, however wrong Shaheen and Penn were to mention that Obama's drug use as a kid would hurt him in a general campaign, they are right about the right-wing smear merchants glee about the potential to lie about Obama they way they did about the Clintons. Soon they'll have Obama selling drugs in the schoolyard to elementary school kids for his muslim terrorist grandfather. The truth does not matter to the right-wing. That is where most of Clinton's critics got their lies about her--Republican lies laundered through the MSM. Wise up guys. Democrats should not do the Republican's job for them.

Linda

You're right of course. It's just that bad as Reid and some others are, McConnell, Coburn, et. al. are even worse--hard as that is to imagine sometimes. Democrats do, however, need to find a way to hold Democrats like Reid accountable without risking a return to the DeLay school of government. I wish I knew how to do that. Maybe the best way is to hold the press accountable, the way you did with Joe Klein, starting with the Washington Post, the NY Times, Tim Russert, Howard Kurtz, and most especially that pathetic little panderer to the right Chris Matthews. He is sick with his hatred of Democrats, both Clintons, and eventually Edwards and Obama if either wins the nomination. His crushes on Republican bullies like Bush and Guiliani is creepy. If the Democrats had less to fear from MSM lies, maybe they would grow a backbone. I for one can't stand another 6 years like the past 6 years. I'd slit my throat. So we can't risk a return to the Bush years.

Linda

Chris Matthews is a pathetic little tool of the Republican smear machine. He hates Democrats, the Clintons in particular, and he will turn on Edwards or Obama if either gets the nomination. His crushes on Republican bullies is creepy. He doesn't like smart women who disagree with him or speak out. He has a pitiable and disturbing need to run with the rich bullies to convince himself and others that he is tough and cool. He shuts down or intimidates anyone who seriously contradicts him, particularly if they try to defend a Clinton. And he, not Clinton, is keeping the drug story alive. It's a twofer--keep Obama drug use out there and blame Clinton for keeping it alive. How can you let him get away this trash. By appearing on his show and being quiet or agreeing with his red-faced rants you lend him credibility and allow him to convince himself he is cool. You are better than that, and women need you to challenge him, even at the risk of not being asked back. Matthews represents all that is wrong with the MSM.

Linda