It didn’t seem to hurt Hussein when he called regular patriotic Americans “bitter clingers”, or told his worshippers to “get in their faces” , or calls Tea Partiers racists. They know it works, it worked for them, and that’s why they’re condescing to give us-the opposition-advice not to do it. We can still focus on the issues while not letting them play their nasty game with one set of rules for them and another set for us. Look how well taking the “high road” worked for McCain.
And look how well personal attacks worked for people like Pat Buchanan.
The only ones in Congress that can get away with it are incumbents that are VERY safe.