Never to have heard Barbara Jordan speak was to miss one of the great American experiences - educational and spiritual - of the 20th century. May her memory go beyond a politic invocation of her name. Here's hoping her spirit will be born again.

Hillary Clinton's low point during Thursday night's was clear to all: when she stuck with her silly charge of plagiarism against her opponent. It seems Barack Obama had borrowed a rhetorical device from a friend, supporter, and fellow governor (Deval Patrick in Massachusetts) to illustrate the power of words after Sen. Clinton had denigrated their importance in politics.

The only thing Sen. Obama had to do to make his case was to recite some familiar passages, like the Declaration of Independence. The power of those words is evident. Plagiarism? This was more a natural response from anybody with some polemical talent.

But poor Hillary Clinton kept trying to make a mountain out of her molehill. It's her accusation, however unfounded, and she's sticking with it. The audience didn't seem to buy it. There's something worse than fighting dirty in a hard-fought campaign, and that's fighting dumb.

American eloquence may be in decline, but most Americans still recognize that words have power, and the inspiration they provide shouldn't be underestimated. That was Hillary Clinton's big mistake. In a way, it's been the big mistake of her whole campaign. She seems to have no feel at all for the poetry of politics.