Submitted by Larry O'Brien, Jan 16, 2008 17:26

Discussion of the nuclear issue calls to my mind the Colorado primary of 1992 when Paul Tsongas was the front runner, having won a series of primary contests, including new Hampshire. He was ahead in the polls in Colorado. On nuclear power, his position was that global warming (this was 17 years ago) was the most pressing issue and that he had concluded that new but smaller nuclear power plants -- 300 to 500 megawatts -- should be one element in an energy strategy that would protect the planet from further degradation because of the use of fossil fuels. Bill Clinton began running ads claiming that Tsongas wanted to build 300 to 500 new nuclear plants all over the U.S. -- a blatant lie. Clinton charged in a debate that Paul "was proposing building hundreds of nuclear power plants across the country." Tsongas replied: "It's a lie. It's a lie. It's a lie." However, Clinton kept on shouting the lie, in person and in radio and TV spots. Tsongas did not have the resources to counter this false attack, and the result was that Jerry Brown edged him in Colorado. This kept the Clinton candidacy alive, but on the basis of an extremely evil lie.

History has a way of repeating itself. Watch out, Barack.

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