Comparing someone to Hitler or the Nazis has become a standard way of demonizing a particular person or organization because it is accepted by all rational people that Hitler and the Nazis committed heinous atrocities.

Well, it seems that, to the detriment of respectful dialogue between Democrats and Republicans, the leading Democratic presidential candidates are now using the Republicans, and especially George Bush himself, as the new version of Hitler and the Nazis.

Two prominent stories recently showed this clearly:

The first story was the now infamous “planted question” by the Clinton camp, to which Edwards responded: “What George Bush does is plant questions and exclude people from events, and I don’t think that’s what Democrats want to see in Iowa.”

The Clinton camp sharply retorted: “What George Bush does is attack Democrats and divide the country,” [Clinton spokesman Mark] Daley said. “John Edwards’ campaign resembles that more and more every day.”

Then just this weekend, a rumor was instigated by Robert Novak in an online column that the Clinton camp had some scandalous information about Barack Obama. Obama challenged the Clinton camp promptly for justice, and Clinton’s staff responded:

“These are the kinds of attacks that Republicans engage in, and the kinds of traps they set for Democratic candidates,” Carson said. “A Republican-leaning columnist puts out a statement, a baseless statement accusing Sen. Clinton of some sort of activity. … What (Obama) is doing is parroting Republican talking points.”

So we have 3 accusations among the 3 Democratic front-runners of doing what the (evil) George Bush or Republicans do.

This state of affairs is sad because it shows that the top leadership of this country, which includes both Republicans and Democrats, view the other side as disingenuous, and how can you have a profitable discussion with someone you think is disingenuous?

I have become increasingly convinced (or convicted) that we must assume that those who disagree with us have the best of intentions and motives rather than the worst. Only with such a mutually respectful attitude toward another person can we truly get to know them and learn what they think and why. And only after this respect is in place can we relate to one another as persons and perhaps change our understanding or even beliefs for the better.

To that end, I want to mention that, in spite of the challenges I have made toward Al Gore and Jimmy Carter, that I do think that they believe the causes they are championing are good and are real things. However, I have pointed out what I see are inconsistencies in their beliefs which I think they need to address to become more credible people.

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