I wonder if Photogate is going to be a vaccine against attacks on Bernie's integrity?

One of our fellow DU folk is a reporter, and has made some astute commentary about negative campaigning (which this appears to be - the terms "rat" and "copulation slang" are being used) being the GoTo when there are problems in a campaign, and hinted that this is probably a first wave of such attacks.

However.

One of the appealing things about Bernie is his apparent integrity. He could have chosen an easy route of being a pure Democrat, but instead worked harder as a Stubborn Independent. This means if he wanted to accomplish anything, he had to broker himself, without having a "party" to back him, and his Senate colleagues had to TRUST HIM because no one was available to "reign him in" so to speak if he lied. (I am okay with him running as a Democrat because of the two parties, it seems to be where he belongs.) Photogate was pretty bluntly an attack on one of his most appealing qualities: His Integrity.

And it is blowing up, which means (if the intrepid reporter is right) the mudslinging is going to get worse. (What else can you do when you can't win on reality?)

But now everyone knows "Photogate was a Farce" - will this create an automatic inoculation against future smears, similar to a vaccine allowing antibodies to be generated? Will it work with the press, who supposedly don't want to be tarnished as "gullible fools"? Will it work with his supporters - "wow, what will they come up with next - is Bernie really a secret Catholic woman who is being mind controlled by the Pope?"

Primary passions are important, and candidly, I am okay with this attack on Bernie's character because I am glad to see the measured response when detractors say things that aren't true because I guarantee, on purpose or accidentally, it WILL happen in the future as political opponents, other countries and even people jockeying for their pet causes all toss their opinions out there for the world to see.

How do YOU handle it when someone tells lies about you? It is life, and it happens. The leader of our country can't just decide to "never speak to you ever again" because that won't work. The leader of our country needs to be able not just to forgive, but to also make sure the behavior isn't rewarded, with the ultimate goal being to make sure that what is best for the country is accomplished.

It seems to be like parenting a teenager, really. Maybe that is why "Grandpa Bernie" seems like such a good choice?

Okay, maybe that was a silly analogy! Or maybe not.

Either way, "Photogate" looks to me like it is going to be a Good Thing whether just as a simple "inoculation against stupid smears" or as an example of what to expect when subjected to the same in the future.

I am even more comfortable in my support of Bernie Sanders as President.