When they really shouldn't.
(CNN) Yesterday on CNN, Hilary Rosen, a Washington insider who has advised many prominent Democrats, made the ill-advised decision to attack a fellow parent, a stay-at-home mother, by accusing her of having "never worked a day in her life."
The stay-at-home mother targeted maliciously by Rosen has successfully raised five boys, who all have their own families now and constructively contribute to society. This particular mother has battled cancer and multiple sclerosis.
This particular stay-at-home mom travels the country and speaks up on issues of importance to her and for her children and grandchildren's future. This particular stay-at-home mother is also a Republican, her name is Ann Romney and her message is resonating. Therein lies the reason for Rosen's vicious attack.
After calls for her to apologize from both the left and the right, Rosen initially refused. But she caved to the building pressure today. In her apology she said, "Let's declare peace in this phony war and go back to focus on the substance."
One oft heard lament heard, pretty much all the time but especially in the frenzy and fracas of an election year, is that far too much attention gets paid to the "mindless" day to day back and forths between candidates and far too little to the "issues that matter."
The whole "Hillary Rosen was mean to Ann Romney" matter obviously, in the clear light of day, NOT one of a matter that matters.
And while there is really no reasonable argument to made against the aforementioned lament, here's politics in plain english...
The little things get so much attention because so many of the big things are beyond our ability to understand.
A boss walks out to his secretary's desk, plops down a piece of paper and, in a passionate tone, berates her, "what is this on this expense report? FIVE DOLLARS for paper clips? FIVE DOLLARS?"
The secretary, summoning her best, most patient tone, replies, "what are talking about? You're the CEO of a multi billion dollar corporation...literally millions of dollars pass through this office every day and you're coming to me about five dollars for paper clips?"
The boss, still firm in his indignation, responds, "...millions and millions of dollars....I can't begin to have a clue about that....but five dollars for paper clips....THAT I totally undertand....."
Psychologists tell us that when we find ourselves in situations we can't control, we compensate by looking for things we can control.
Whether those things are really in need of any control or not.
Clearly, the complexities of a presidential campaign are dauntingly confusing enough.
Add in the slight of hand that office seekers throw in to the mix to convince voters to pull the levers on their behalf and you have a scenario that would befuddle Stephen Hawking.
Hillary Rosen being mean to Ann Romney, though....
...THAT we totally understand.
Pass the paper clips.
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