Behind the Objections

Democratic party bigwigs like John Kerry and Tom Daschle are protesting the "lies" being circulated about Barack Obama.

No doubt some of the protest springs from concern for the party's future if the Clintons succeed in securing the nomination -- or even at the presidency -- but at the cost of loosening the ties between African Americans and the Democratic Party.

But one also gets the sense that there are Democrats like Kerry and Daschle who, for reasons of their own, are enjoying the opportunity to speak up against the Clintons in a context that is much less risky than taking them on directly.