Clinton's Victory Demeans Uplifting Politics

Hillary Clinton prevailed in Pennsylvania by dragging Barack Obama's bipartisan, hopeful vision through the muck, proving politics is “frequently mean and irrational,” Gail Collins writes in the New York Times. Clinton showed that the playing field is dirty, and that even the junior senator from Illinois would go negative if he was pushed. She also proved that nobody can match her for pure toughness.

But Collins isn’t concerned about the length of the primary fight; or if she is, it’s only because the Democrats are setting new records for pandering. By all means, Clinton and Obama should keep warring, “Just as long as they keep it personal”—Bosnia and bitterness gaffes age better than unbearable pledges on Iran, taxes and NAFTA. (More Barack Obama stories.)