Negative campaigning is more than just mudslinging, it's democracy at its absolute worst. It is that final abandonment of professional ethics that leads America away from the issues and toward name-calling.
The biggest detriment to this process is undoubtedly PAC's like the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth. These organizations exist for the soul purpose of slandering their opponent and contribute little to the democratic process.
Sometimes politicians attempt to rise above the sludge, and I genuinely believe that Sen. Kerry attempted to do so. In his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, Sen. Kerry directly addressed President Bush and said In the weeks ahead
let's be optimists not just opponents. Let's build unity in the American family not angry division. Let's honor this nation's diversity; let's respect one another. A decent plea that fell upon deaf ears.
In President Bush's speech at the Republican National Convention, he attacked Kerry's values, claiming that he had none. The president also attacked Kerry's view that the so-called Coalition of the Willing consists of countries badgered and bought by the Bush administration.
One name on the ticket that has been unapologetically vicious is Vice President Dick Cheney. In a recent speech, Cheney said if Americans made the wrong choice
the danger is we'll get hit again
suggesting that a terrorist attack would be eminent if Kerry were elected. This statement is hardly a symbol for democracy; it is a scare tactic intended to coerce the American people.
It's time to return to the issues in this election. We can always turn to Michael Moore and Rush Limbaugh to get our radical fix.
-Dryden is a junior creative writing major. Send him an e-mail
at ed890402@ohiou.edu
From the right: Liberals selectively label 'negatives'
This election year we have seen our president attacked by a fraudulent movie, well-educated musicians, anti-war protesters, 527 groups and many books, including one with a character who explains how he will assassinate President Bush. Liberals and the media didn't think these attacks were negative.
But now that the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a 527 group, is exposing John Kerry's perfidious anti-war actions and is questioning his Vietnam service, which Kerry has made the cornerstone of his campaign, liberals are complaining about negative ads.
Though the 527 groups and ads have been around for months, only recently have they been labeled as negative because the Swift vets' charges have been so damning to Kerry's campaign.
Liberals, who are always advocating free speech, just found these negative ads too disheartening for American voters. One Democratic group threatened legal action to quiet the Swift vets. Liberals also demanded that President Bush denounce the Swift vet ads.
But where was the liberal call for Kerry to join the president when Bush condemned all of the 527 ads? Why didn't the media report that, in terms of fundraising and expenditures, 18 of the top 20 negative 527 groups have liberal platforms? Of these 20 groups, only two are conservative organizations and the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is not one of them! And why wasn't Kerry forced to criticize MoveOn.org for its ad that compared Bush to Adolf Hitler?
The liberals' outcry of negativity following the Swift vet ads shows their common hypocrisy. Attacking Bush is okay. But when you even question John Kerry or his actions, watch out, because you're being too negative.
-Reed is a junior political communications major. Send him an e-mail at jr223202@ohiou.edu
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