Halperin Repeating Smears? Must Be a Weekday

Mark Halperin is sorry. But is anyone surprised?

In case you haven't heard by now, Halperin, an editor and political analyst for Time and ABC News, is in dutch for using a vulgarity to describe Barack Obama. (By the way, Mark, David Shuster thanks you for taking the heat off him.)

Halperin, in a radio interview, said that John Edwards considers Obama to be lacking in toughness and "kind of a pussy." In issuing his apology, Halperin minimized his blame by noting that he was merely characterizing the view of another, not expressing his own opinion.

Well, of course he was. After all, passing on the spiteful half-truths that every political campaign uses to smear its rivals is Halperin's specialty -- as I've noted. This time it's Edwards slagging Obama; last time, it was the Republicans pegging Edwards as a "lightweight pretty boy." In each case, it's not Halperin doing the defaming. He's just letting you in on what the candidates think of each other -- you know, as a public service.

Hearing a serious presidential contender called a "pussy" is jarring. But you know what's really offensive? Halperin's continuing belief that repeating slanders and schoolyard taunts is a worthwhile form of reporting.

Mark, next time you hear that this candidate would like voters to think that candidate is a secret Muslim, or a secret lesbian, or a senile warmonger, just keep it to yourself, okay? We already know. It's called politics.