A key distinction

RE “HE’S sexist, she’s elitist? Please, spare us the sitcom’’ (Editorial, Oct. 8): In all the commentary about the recent exchange of wisecracks between Elizabeth Warren and Senator Scott Brown, something particularly important, given the level of recent political discourse, has been omitted: the difference in a political contest between criticism of the actions and criticism of the appearance of one’s opponent. The former may or may not be pertinent but is usually legitimate; the latter, never.