That's true of course, but do we really want to encourage a climate where candidates are afraid to state any of their views except in pre-approved formulations and soundbites that are carefully calculated to avoid all negative impressions? I have no problem with hammering a candidate for genuinely ignorant or offensive statements, but when the statement merely seems offensive to those who can't be bothered to parse it properly, or refuse to parse it properly because that's politically convenient for them, well, then I think it should be defended. And I don't think he's an idiot just because he went and said something that (presumably) wasn't literally what his spin doctors had told him to say.

It may be the reality, but realities can be changed. Will have to be changed, honestly - the polarization and craziness in American politics has gotten so out of hand these past few years, it can't keep going on forever.