To quote you "The difference is that conservatives don't have to target the opposition's spouse, children, and everything about them."

Ah, if it were only so simple. How soon we forget Rush Limbaugh on his ill-fated TV show. Don't you remember when he talked about the "White House Dog", only to show a picture of then-13 year old Chelsea Clinton? Hillary was villified all 8 years Bill was president, and that was before being a Senator. Replubicans trashed Theresa Hinez-Kerry all through that election. The list goes on and on.

Look, it goes both ways. Neiter party is a bastion of honesty or morality. They both are masters of using what they have and trying to destroy the other party with whatever means necessary. Neither can claim to have the higher moral ground when both are full of corruption. For as many Democrats that you can name who cheated on their wives (Clinton, etc...) I can name Republicans who did the same (Hyde, Gingrich, etc...). Anybody who thinks one is morally superior than the other is fooling themselves.

Those who want to lead us are the very people who shouldn't be.