[highball]

“Hunter ought to demand this guy retract his hit piece.”

If he doesn’t, it would make it look like he agrees with it and is OK with such tactics.

Exactly.

This guy is a member of Hunter's team, and identifies himself as much. Everything he does, therefore, is a reflection upon Hunter's campaign.

[The Pack Knight]

This guy is a member of Hunter's team, and identifies himself as much. Everything he does, therefore, is a reflection upon Hunter's campaign.

I don't think it really reflects poorly on him. In fact, I'm glad Mr. Hawkins (and Dick Morris, for that matter) brought this up, since I think it's worth talking about what kind of nominee and what kind of President we want.

Do we want a politician who's mostly interested in kissing babies, raising money, and winning the Beauty Contest, or do we want someone who's going just going to tell us what he believes and what kind of President he's going to be, and let the voters decide? Do we want a man who polls incessantly so he can match his platform to the "public will", or do we want a man who will govern by his own principles and conscience? Do we want someone who thinks the President "runs the country", or someone who knows what the President's Constitutional role is? Do we want a follower, or a leader? Are we a democracy, or a republic?

So ask away, Mr. Hawkins. My answer's right below.