As I have listened to Obama, Clinton, and McCain closer than I have ever listened to any politicians, I recognize that fifth century Greece is highly relevant. Fifth century Sophist were responsible for education in the rhetorical arts being taught to anyone who wanted to find ways of "finding all the available means of persuading" others to actions and or beliefs important to the persuasive speaker.

However, Aristotle and Plato must be rotating in their graves as McCain practices the sophistry of Gorgias which had no moral ground, high or low. It has been eye popping to listen to CNN commentators verbalizing a concern that the Democrats are less qualified to present negative ads and speeches than the Republicans. They seem to suggest that the Democrats had better hurry and go negative fast and furious if they plan to win the 2008 election.

As a student of behavioral science and one who comprehends the importance of analyzing one's audience, I cannot help but speculate that if the political news commentators are correct, then a large portion of the American public may complain about gutter behavior but is not able to resist yielding to its influence. I have heard lies, distortions, and misrepresentations passed as good ads. My concern is more for the overall adult voting citizens and students whose social studies teachers need to be gathering and archiving this data for classroom scrutiny. Failure to educate our children so they can make choices with their eyes wide opened could lead to our downfall. Imagine how Hitler got over.
I am an Obama supporter. I empathize with his dilemma. Either he tries to stay on high ground and risk loosing or lowers his standards and joins McCain in the gutter of the Republican Slime Machine. My prayer is that he fine something we have not seen in politics in my life time, a way to raise the public to higher ground. Is this truly the "The Impossible Dream"?