Candidates Should Stop Playing Nice

On Tuesday night, Democratic presidential hopefuls Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton sat down with Brian Williams and Tim Russert at Cleveland State University in Ohio for their 20th debate since the primary season's official commencement.

"Experts" can argue all day about which candidate came out on top in this debate, but in my opinion the night's real winner was a man who didn't utter a single line of rhetoric: GOP front-runner Sen. John McCain. The longer the issue of who will represent the Dems drags on, the more confident and competent the Republican candidate appears.

Some people would have you believe that the more polite and civil the presidential debates are, the better. I would have to disagree wholeheartedly. The truth is I wanted nothing more than to see some blood on MSNBC Tuesday night. I wanted to see some heads roll. This is because I am sick and tired of watching the Democratic Party flounder in its decision-making primary process.

The discourse of Tuesday night's debate, with the exception of a few moments, was completely placid. Neither candidate had the guts or grit to take a stand and proclaim why they are better than their opponent.

The debate presented both Obama and Clinton with a chance to move their campaigns miles ahead in the right direction, and yet neither one capitalized on the opportunity. Had Obama gone for a kill by calling out Clinton on her clandestine joint tax return operation, he could have shown Democrats everywhere that he is confident in his position as Democratic front-runner, thus increasing his already-strong-but-perhaps-not-quite-strong-enough momentum.

But he didn't. Instead, Obama let co-moderator Tim Russert do all the bullying. On the other hand, had Clinton asserted explicitly that her health care plan was far superior to Obama's, she could have shown Democrats far and wide that she is not willing to cede control over this race quite yet, allowing her to pave her road to a comeback. But she didn't. Instead, she allowed Obama to discuss the similarities between their health care plans.

Look, I understand the benefits of "staying above the fray" of contention in order to appear statesman—or woman—like. But to sacrifice your individuality for the sake of a pleasant night in Cleveland is akin to self-sabotage for both the Clinton and Obama campaigns.

The longer the party remains unsure of who to throw their support behind in the general election, however, the more indecisive the Democratic platform will seem to new unaffiliated voters. For the good of their party, either Barack or Hillary, or both, need to decide whether to lock-and-load or throw in the towel.