by TChris

It's understandable that Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) would be upset at "the small but vocal group of national Republicans that attacked [his] patriotism and compared [him] to Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden at the very same time [his] son was defending our nation in Afghanistan." And it's understandable, but not acceptable, that he lashed back in like fashion by referring to "the Taliban wing of the Republican Party."

Name calling has attained the status of an art form in the blogosphere, but it isn't productive in the political arena. It impairs the ability to engage in a rational dialog. It offends gratuitously. Public officials don't serve the public by indulging in it. Nor do they serve their parties by providing ammunition to an opposition trying to arouse its base.

To his credit, Sen. Johnson is capable of admitting error and apologizing, as he did today.