When politicians nearly come to a fistfight at a debate (forget Obama and Romney circling each other last night – that wasn’t even close), you know the end result will be a new political ad and this one is very effective. The episode was a forum for a very bitter race between two redistricted democrats in a congressional race in California, featuring Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA). You can find more details at the LA Times if you’re interested (and as you might expect, the candidates do not actually disagree that much).
You can almost get into each others face at a debate, but you cross a line when your arm goes around your opponent’s shoulder or neck. What next? Actual slug fests for those running for office? More than a few have noted that the American psyche has its coarse edges though other countries have had entire Parliaments descend into fistfights. Perhaps we should cherish our modicum of restraint before it completely disappears.
