^By that logic, detractors should "forgive" Hillary for voting to support the liberation of Iraq. It's not her current position. Seems a bit idealistic to me.
A better way to elect a president is a blind vote. Write the platforms on a ballot. Voters vote on a platform. No pictures of the candidates -- no sounbytes, no race, gender, inhaling, ex-wives, etc. Take the media out of it completely.
If Obama wants to appear the all-American boy (he ain't) and extoll the virtues of his pastor (good religious man) and his father (good family man) he must be prepared to die by the sword as well. Having said that, I don't think he'd be any better or worse than the other candidates. ('cept Hillary)
