Quote Originally Posted by JAG
Since when has personal attacks been ideologically pigeon holed? That is like saying only those who want war masterbate.... Just doesn't make sense.
Makes more sense then you seem to think. By attacking others directly instead of attacking their ideas you are not addressing the issue or the politics of the idea - you are instead attacking only the individual. Many that would be consider "left wing" perform just this tactic when attempting to demonize or otherwise discredit someone because of thier politicial believes. (now the right is not innocent of this tactic either - but the "left wing," has always done this - and its gotten worse.

A prime examble would be the latest attack on Blair blaming the bombings in London on him.

Then there is the attacks on Blair being a lapdog to President Bush.

The attacks not on President Bush policies and tactics - but on his person.

But like I said the right is not innocent either - for instance the Personal attacks on Chirac and Chavez.

And other such personal attacks on people in politics. Many that are "left wing" attack not the policy - but the individual. And its not "pigeon holing" the concept - its showing the weakness of the "left wing" mentality of instead of providing arguements to counter the policy they attack the individual who makes the policy or advocates the policy. Such methods might just be turning people off of the "left wing" because its more mud slinging then politicial disagreement.

The problem with such tactics is that they never address the issues and distort the overall idealogical and policitical difference.