A typical conversation that takes place on some of these threads might begin with, "Senator Smith is a thief and a crook! Lobbyists own him lock, stock, and barrel! And not only that, he'll take any bribe that's offered him! And besides, he has sex with his secretary!"

With accusations like that, not only is it perfectly legitimate to ask for evidence for these assertions, it's practically mandatory. Those are pretty damned serious charges and they demand serious proof.

Especially when everything you've heard about Senator Smith indicates that he is a paragon of personal integrity, and works his butt off for the benefit of his constituency and for the country as a whole.

Don Firth