Watching the Super Bowl, I was appalled to see an ad that urged people to tell Sen. Susan Collins to oppose President Bush's "surge" plan. She's already opposed to it and has been since his announcement. The intent to malign her position and plant doubt in the minds of Maine voters was clear.

If Rep. Tom Allen or his party are indeed planning a bid for her seat in two years, please at least wage a campaign based on the actual positions of both candidates. To skew public opinion with lies or near lies about a person's stance on controversial issues may be typical in U.S. politics. But let's hold ourselves to a higher standard in Maine.

Marc A. Pitman

Waterville