Hey, Joe:

Maybe the reason the Democrats are "besmirching each other's character," as you say, is because they don't have anything else to talk about. No one is pressing them on the important policy or philosophical questions relevant to the office of the presidency.

These candidates are rarely, if ever, asked about such issues as terrorism or what America's role in fighting terrorism should be, or the relevance of the constitution, or their views on capitalism, or the proper role of the different branches of government, or about school choice, private property rights, immigration—illegal and otherwise, the definition or limits of free speech, international trade, practical energy solutions, or a hundred other substantive issues.

There might not be a dime's worth of difference between them, as you suggest, but until their Democratic constituents show any interest in these crucial issues and want to know their candidate’s stand on them (don’t hold your breath), the “petty snarking” will go on.