Politics As Usual

According to the AP, John Edwards is looking to feature his "Two Americas" theme more prominently in his campaign. Despite the substantive issues Edwards is attempting to raise--the growing income disparity in America, a tax system that favors the rich, out of control credit card companies--the Republican party's response is a predictable non sequitur. The spokesman for the Republican National Committee, Dan Ronayne, had nothing more intelligent to say than "John Edwards likes to talk about the 'Two Americas' but he should add a third America — his. The America of $400 haircuts, mansions, hedge funds and tax loopholes is one uniquely his own."
Notwithstanding the obvious factual inaccuracy of this statement (there are plenty of people in an America of lavish haircuts, mansions, hedge funds, and tax loopholes), the vapid nature of the response makes one shudder.
It is puzzling that on issues that every American should be concerned with, the people do not demand better from their politicians. Petty ad hominem attacks such as Ronayne's should offend the sensibilities of anyone who truly cares about the country and its problems. Perhaps this country is ready for a viable, third party candidate to change the nature of politics.