Jason, thanks for the comment (and the persistence). I agree the "end justifies means" discussion is very complex. Key for anyone, like you stated, is to "know your ethics and make a stand."  My stand regarding this practice is that money is the only measure of right and wrong.  I guess I didn't make the point very well, but when money is our only measure, we are hooked.  Too many atrocities have been committed under the guise of "end justifies means" when the end is money.  And if our only measure of the benefit of a practice is money, we can expect more atrocities to follow.

To link this back to your example, at the precise moment we decide that a dirty campaign is the only way to win, we lose.  It's like Global Thermonuclear War in the movie War Games.  The only way to win is not to play.

Mike...