@Eggplant,
The left always wants to set the parameters for the discussion. Of course once they have determined the agenda and the allowable terminology has been predefined there really is nothing else to say. It is like trying to discuss wine with the French after you have already agreed with their ground rules. Right now the Obama camp is trying to create a rule that no one can mention Ayers or Rezco or Wright. They also want to be sure that all the failed leaders of the past from the Democrats who created the current problems such as Carter and Ted Kennedy are only described in suitably sentimental terms. By cutting away the roots that Obama comes from we leave him exposed. Obama has no achievements on his own. He is merely the agent of those who groomed and propelled him. To focus on him and ignore this background is as useless as engaging the Great and Powerful Oz when we should be pulling the plug on those behind the curtain. (Forgive the labored analogy, not meaning to push it as a conspiracy as much as a phenomenon.)