John McCain has asked state Republicans in North Carolina to pull an ad questioning the judgment of local candidates who have endorsed Barack Obama, given his 20-year close association with Rev. Jeremiah "God D--- KKK America"  Wright. McCain has done so because he says he wants to run a "respectful" campaign.

Respectful? What isn't "respectful" about acknowledging and debating the virulent anti-Americanism of one of Obama's most significant mentors? At some level, presidential elections are always exercises in character judgment, and Obama's character--his attitudes, his beliefs, his influences--is of key interest to the electorate, as is John McCain's. Denying this--or, worse, marginalizing discussion as "disrespectful"--is not to be confused with seizing the moral high ground.  It's a Big Mistake.

In 1992, George Bush the father took essentially the same position and nixed discussion of Bill Clinton's character (womanizing, draft-dodging, corruption, etc.). That worked out well, didn't it?