Clinton should rebuke Howard Dean

Here’s a test for the Democratic Party: How firmly can it reject the irresponsible accusation by former Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean that Donald Trump was sniffling during the debate because he was using cocaine? Dr. Dean made his claim Monday night, and then stuck with it Tuesday.

The temptation to embrace or tolerate irresponsible attacks is a constant for political parties. And, contrary to what many liberals believe, their side also is susceptible to conspiracy-mongering. Go back a decade or so, and you’ll find liberals who trafficked in theories about voting machines, to cite just one example.

It’s especially tempting to indulge in such behavior when partisans see the other side doing it. Dr. Dean may feel that the despicable rumor-mongering about Hillary Clinton’s health that Republicans have participated in makes it necessary to fight fire with fire. Yet whatever the short-term rewards, the long-term consequences to party and nation are dangerous.

Consider the Republican Party. For decades, its leaders have trained rank-andfile voters to think the media lies to them. Republicanaligned talk shows and other media have blared out that mainstream conservative Republican politicians are betraying the cause.

This drumbeat has promoted wild fabrications. In the last few years, we’ve had the “birther” lie, the false claim that Barack Obama can’t speak without a teleprompter, blarney about Benghazi — the list goes on.

Not all Republican leaders promulgated these myths, but few in the party challenged them. This strategy gave rise to Donald Trump and the no-compromise dysfunction evident in the Republican Congress.

The Democratic Party has done better at pushing back. Its leaders basically tossed former Rep. Cynthia McKinney out of the party for peddling conspiracies. Brawler Alan Grayson was just defeated for nomination to a U.S. Senate seat. Now they need to act again.

I’m not talking about hard-hitting attacks on opponents or spin, which is normal and can even be healthy. Campaigns should inform voters about the differences between the parties and their candidates. But inventing slurs is not normal or healthy. It can lead to broken governance.

Hillary Clinton does not have an obligation to denounce Howard Dean. But as the leader of her party, she would be wise to do so.