For a time, it seemed as if the campaign for the 23rd Congressional District seat was going admirably. Three candidates were vying very competitively for a seat that had belonged exclusively to one party for many decades. It was the way America was supposed to work. Toward the end, though, it took a sickeningly ugly turn.

It wasn't the outcome that was ugly. Democrat Bill Owens defeated Conservative Doug Hoffman after Republican Dede Scozzafava dropped out for lack of support. The system prevailed with our proudest point proven: Anyone can win an election in America, in spite of scant political experience or political alignments.

What was ugly was the reaction of a few extremists who apparently disagreed with Republican Assemblywoman Janet Duprey's choice of Scozzafava as the congressional candidate. Duprey made a choice, along with 10 other county party chairs, to nominate her Assembly colleague and friend, Scozzafava, knowing the candidate supported women's rights, gay rights and the right to abortion — causes Duprey also backs.

Disagreeing with the choice of Scozzafava would be fine. Disagreeing with any of those planks in the platform would be fine. It was how some of them expressed their disagreement that troubles the peaceful heart.

Duprey received anonymous e-mails and phone calls — perhaps a dozen to 20 — threatening her with physical harm for holding those views. Some, paradoxically, included Bible quotations assuring her she would "rot in hell" — an oddly venomous sentiment from one purportedly motivated by love and peace toward another who did nothing more vile than express an opinion.

Some made disparaging observations about Scozzafava's appearance — another strangely incongruous remark in the context of political debate.

Some warned Duprey to watch herself at night and particularly to keep an eye out behind her. Should a coward of this ilk ever be deranged enough to physically assault someone, it would almost surely be a sneak attack from behind. Face-to-face confrontation would seem unavailing for a person with this scary paucity of character.

All of this hatred because Duprey chose a political candidate, as she was obligated to do as Clinton County Republican chairwoman.

What has happened to politics? Politics was supposed to be merely the vehicle for rallying people of like mind on current issues and for promoting candidates for election. It was never supposed to be a life-or-death proposition, whereby the strongest, meanest and most bloodthirsty among us wins through bullying and intimidating.

On the contrary — when those people succeed, the system has utterly failed. Discourse has yielded to rant; reason to emotion; the majority to the mob.

Fortunately for all of us, Janet Duprey is not the type to be cowed by this kind of malevolence. When she leaves office, it will be because she has chosen to or because she was voted out. It won't be because she was run out.

Meanwhile, those e-mailers ought to take stock of their own lives. When a political campaign becomes an occasion for hateful threats, it may be time for new interests.