Submitted by LARRY D. NACHMAN, Jan 29, 2008 05:12

In the light of Sen. Kennedy's comments criticizing those who demonize those with whom they disagree, it might be useful to recall the speech made on the floor of the Senate the day Robert Bork was nominated to the Supreme Court. Before there were any visits by the nominee or hearings by the Judiciary committee, Kennedy engaged in a brutal attack on Bork, "In Robert Bork's America", he declared, "women would be forced into back-alley abortions, blacks would sit at segregated lunch counters, rogue police could break down citizens' doors in midnight raids, etc." It was all false and defamatory, ugly and personal. It was a gross example of demonizing one's opponents. And, I would further argue, it began the spiral of incivility that has poisoned our public discourse.

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