If I were a member of Harvard’s planning and donations committee, I’d be watching my back after the Republican snit about a Harvard education.

That was only one of the snotty put-downs tossed at Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama on Wednesday, Sept. 10. Republican Vice-Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani were the attack dogs of the evening. It’s hard to believe that anyone who sneeringly refers to a Harvard education is seriously going to work to improve educational opportunities for all American kids.

Palin and Giuliani also snidely referred to Obama’s experience as a community organizer, insisting that he had never organized or led anything; “nada” was the word Giuliani used to the roar of the crowd. This particular assertion flies in the face of what political activists of all stripes have called “the best organized and most effective primary campaign they have ever observed.”

Obama was the guiding hand of this campaign, which recruited and energized thousands of volunteers all over America — a bigger domain then either Wassila or New York City. He also inspired nearly 2 million donors to send checks most them for less then $200.

These represented, not fat cats seeking future favors, but real people like you and I who are desperate for relief from government for the rich and influential. Check out McCain’s donor list and note the difference. See who they owe favors to.

Giuliani even sneered at Obama’s popularity on his recent European tour. He said none of the admirers in those admiring crowds “could vote in an election.” He added that Obama had brought back some bad ideas about government responsibility from that trip. This pandering to American provincialism brings back nasty echoes of Donald Runsfield and Dick Cheney’s “Old World” put-downs during the last eight years. Isn’t it time to put that crap behind us? If we hope to influence the world to learn from us, we need to recognize they might have a useful idea or two.

The Obama/Biden camp knows that words matter. That’s why they think before speaking and prefer tactful diplomacy and careful negotiating to war. You won’t get any “Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” slogans from this pair. Isn’t it about time for a real “change” in that direction? We’ve had enough of “shooting from the hip” — or the armored vehicle.

Benita Helseth

Lake Stevens