Posted on: Tuesday, July 13, 2004

EDITORIAL
Presidential race keeps sliding off the track

Hope that this year's presidential race would be a contest of ideas is rapidly failing.

Instead, the Republican and Democratic camps are succumbing to various forms of name-calling and character assassination.

The nation deserves better.

The latest volleys came over the issue of "values" and who best represents core American values. This is an empty debate.

We can think of a long list of areas where the public would be better served than in endless argument over who is best entitled to play the "values" card.

For instance, what do the candidates have planned for the economy, particularly in the arena of job creation?

And what about social services, ranging from welfare and health insurance to Social Security? Do the candidates have specific ideas on how to protect these basic safety nets?

Let's stipulate that both George Bush and John Kerry are good human beings who have the best interests of the American people at heart.

And then let's get on with a discussion of how those interests will be served with specific programs, policies and ideas.