...attack the messenger.
It's an age-old formula, has been used for thousands of years. When an opponent's arguments are too solid to effectively rebut, attack his character. Men seem to think that if they can find some impurity of motive or character in the messenger, this somehow frees them from accepting the content or logic of his conclusions. This is called an ad hominem argument. "So-and-so is wrong because he's a scoundrel." Well, "So-and-so" might indeed be a scoundrel, but that doesn't mean what he says is incorrect. Folks, we're obligated to obey any truth the devil might teach; his character is irrelevant when truth is concerned.
The Democrats are doing it now--attacking character. They are losing the health care debate on the merits of the case. It is now obvious that government run health care will be too expensive, or will cause rationing of services, or probably both. An overwhelming majority of Americans are satisfied with their health plan and don't want it changed. And they are letting Mr. Obama know about it in no uncertain terms.
So his supporters are dragging out the favorite Democratic mantra: "Racist!" Anybody who contests Obama's plan is charged with racism. Rush Limbaugh is a racist, Joe Wilson is a racist (Jimmy Carter said so), Glenn Beck is a racist, God is a racist...it doesn't matter, if you oppose The Messiah, you are a racist. According to Newsweek, even babies are racists. These liberals are really desperate.
But it's all they've got because they are getting overrun by arguments they cannot answer.
Fortunately, most people aren't buying it; a recent Rasmussen poll indicates only 12% of Americans believe that Obama's opponents are motivated by racial prejudice in this current debate.
But sling mud if you can't do anything else. Liberals are very good at it.