Columbia Tribune: McCaskill and Talent; Drawing the Curtain

Columbia Daily Tribune
Editorial

Lord knows, it's time to draw a curtain of charity on the increasingly disgusting drama that is the campaign for the U.S. Senate between incumbent Republican Jim Talent and challenger Democrat Claire McCaskill.

I herewith offer a ringing endorsement of McCaskill, the challenger. If others among you will reach a conclusion in this race, any conclusion, you can spare yourselves the debilitating experience of absorbing a moment more of this negative campaign.

In my view, neither candidate deserves to suffer from today's style of campaigning. Some of this advertising is paid for and placed by political parties and committees with disclaimers stating the candidate is not responsible, but that thin veil of propriety is cellophane. And often, particularly in Talent's campaign, the candidate himself blithely says he approves the nasty message, as if it had merely been a happy birthday wish and he has a smile on his face.

Enough about the campaigning. No doubt all of you have had enough. I spare myself by not watching any television politicking -- I might be the only person in America who has not seen a single campaign ad on the tube -- but even casual listening on radio gives plenty of angst.

So, back to the important decision voters will make despite the clutter.

The main issue in this campaign is the need for change in Washington. I'm convinced history will treat the current administration and its mostly compliant Congress with disdain, and we don't need passage of time to reach our own similar conclusion.

A few Republicans have bravely and wisely stood up against the worst abuses attempted by their president. Sadly, Jim Talent is not among them. He can fairly be described as a lapdog of George W. Bush, enough of an indictment to cause even mildly thoughtful constituents to look for an alternative.

Sen. Talent has been a willing conspirator in all the well-known errors of this administration. In particular, in Missouri this year his opposition to the stem cell initiative stands out. Simply put, if a reasonable alternative can be found, it's time for the incumbent to go.

Missourians have such an option. Claire McCaskill has an excellent record of public service as a prosecuting attorney in Jackson County, as a Missouri legislator and as state auditor. She is smart and tough and conservative on issues that count and more liberal where she should be. She is a decisive moderate who relates well to constituents but has the conviction of her own mind. She is a prosecutor who favors the death penalty. She will defend our national security but not abandon civil liberties in the process.

This year, it's important that she also happens to be a Democrat. If American voters should have one goal in mind this year, it is to break the Republican cabal in Washington.

And that's too bad. Moderate Republicanism is a perfectly reasonable governing philosophy, but today's party and today's president are far from the mold. Since we have no way to get rid of Bush before 2008, it's doubly important to send a cadre of loyal opponents into the fray to at least slow the juggernaut, if not actually give it a different direction.

Quit punishing yourself. Turn off the U.S. Senate campaign. Make a decision to support Claire McCaskill, and get on to more pleasant pastimes.