If there is one thing I hate about campaign “seasons” it’s the mud. Every candidate seems to run on mud rather than ideas. It’s a lot easier to attack someone than it is to outline what a candidate may do in office. It would mean the candidate has to *gasp* think!
What’s worse is that each opponent is living in a glass house. You remember; “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones?” Well, if you attack, you will be attacked. It’s human nature though it is not common sense.
Mudslinging occurs in almost every political race, from city government to the highest office in the land. Who did what when seems to be the issue most of these people think will win an election.
I will tell you what I think. I think mudslinging is stupidity at its highest. Attack ads tell me that the candidate “approving” the ad doesn’t know any of the issues. The candidate doesn’t have a plan. In fact, the candidate doesn’t even have a clue.
There is a piece of technology I rejoice in when these ads come out. It’s called a “mute” button, and I use it every time. That carefully crafted ad you spent so much money on has no value. I won’t watch it and I’m not alone.
You may want to know what I *do* want in an ad. I want positive, not negative. I watch the news and I read history. I don’t need to know about anyone’s dirty laundry. Truth told, we all have some, so why bring it up?
I want an outline showing me you grasp the most important issues. What are the important issues to you? Do we feel the same about that little detail? That is one thing that would help me vote for the candidate I feel best at the job.
I want an outline of what you intend to do about that issue. I may agree or disagree, but that is what campaigning should be about. If I don’t agree with your approach, I can then choose to vote against you.
I want to know what you will do if certain circumstances arise. What do you plan to do about Iran? Closer to home, what do you plan to do about our local Superfund cleanup project. Again, if I agree, I’ll vote for you. If I don’t, I won’t.
Attack ads really hurt the attacker more than the person being attacked. That’s true whether the person doing the attacking is a political opponent or a well placed business person trying to mold the country to fit his/her desires.
Give us the positive stuff and we can begin to turn our country around. Keep slinging mud and watch out for more voter apathy. You can either blame yourself or the mute button.