Add Hominy

The Ad Hominem logical fallacy must be in bold print on page one of the GOP talking points generation manual.

• Terry Schiavo case? Attack Husband Michael Schiavo. Attack the judges who decided the case.
  
• Bush was AWOL? Attack News Anchor Dan Rather.
• DeLay indicted? Attack District Attorney Ronnie Earle.
• The latest (and probably most absurd): Karl Rove leaked Valerie Plame's name? Attack U.S. Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald.

Their antics would be funny if they weren't so disturbing. With the current state of "journalism" in America requiring the airing of opposing viewpoints, no matter how absurd, these attacks many times successfully distract attention from the issue at hand.

Let me just say that I believe the system should be trusted - whether it's the justice system or the court of public opinion - whenever someone is accused of unethical behavior. The truth will out. No one seriously defends Bill Clinton's actions in the Lewinsky scandal. No one should defend Karl Rove's mishandling of classified information. Instead of attacking the messenger, can't we just concentrate on the facts of the case? I'm sure it's in everyone's interest that no one is above the law, left or right.