Let me start by saying, for the record, that if Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, and ends up being the party’s candidate for the general election, Democrats must henceforth forfeit their (and by “their” I mean “our”) right to bitch about dirty, Republican campaign tactics ever again. Karl Rove may remain the guy with the driver’s license - the Smear Campaign Swami with the political overbite of a dentally challenged cougar - but the Clinton campaign at least gets to ride shotgun in that hoo-ride. Which, of course, just pulled over to pick up Geraldine Ferraro because - after all - someone needed to supply the Funyuns.

The quirky thing about Ferraro’s recent comments about Barack Obama - that the Senator is “lucky” to be black, because otherwise he wouldn’t be a viable contender - is that it isn’t nearly the most offensive slur or innuendo they’ve aimed at the Democratic Frontrunner since he stole Hillary’s lunch money back in Iowa. What’s striking about the statement is how blindly hypocritical it is for one “minority” candidate to spin the physical characteristics of the other, especially when the inverse of the statement is at least as true. Yes, Senator Obama has been trouncing Hillary in the African American vote. (Forget, for a minute, that he also frequently cleans her clock in white men and younger voters of all genders.) But how is his popularity among other African Americans any more of a talking-point than Hillary’s popularity among women voters?

Obama has actually made a point to not make this point, noting that Clinton would be offended if he had suggested that she was where she was only because she is a woman. And nobody should be arguing that either - Hillary is in hot pursuit of the presidency because she is (or at least was before she turned all Lee Atwater on our asses) a dynamic candidate with dynamic ideas on how to improve our country. Ditto for Senator Obama, whose vision and grace has been summarily equated to the great Robert Kennedy, and who also boasts an extensive, progressive outline for the future of the United States. It just so happens that the former happens to be a woman, and the latter an African American. No candidate should be elected solely on their physical characteristics, just like no person should be denied equal protection of the law because of them either. Ascension to the nation’s highest office must be built upon ideas, and goals, and fortitude.

Senator Obama seems to realize this. Senator Clinton, however, has lost her way somewhere along the campaign trail, and has decided to make this campaign about some mythical, unfair, unearned advantage that her opponent has pulled from the political vapors. (And, no, I don’t take stock in the fact that the words did not come from Clinton herself, or that she released a “rebuke” of Ferrardo’s comments; Ferrardo - like so many others before and after her - has been used as a mouthpiece which a candidate can use for attack purposes, and quickly distance themselves when those attacks hit just the “right” pitch of outlandish.) Clinton - who trails Obama in delegates, remember - has recently been floating hints to the media of a Clinton/Obama dream ticket. Maybe I’m just bitter, but if I’m sitting in Obama headquarters and the idea pops up in casual conversation, I tell Senator Obama to take it straight to the convention if that’s what it takes, and let the chips fall where they may. Because enough - at some point - has to be enough.