This is a bi-partisan plea. Both Obama’s and McCain’s campaign’s continue to release ads with lies and half-truths.
McCain keeps insisting that Obama plans to raise taxes on the middle class, which is untrue.
Obama says that McCain wants to cut Social Security benefits in half, which is not true.
McCain runs an ad stating that Obama was being disrespectful of Palin, calling her a “pig”, dismissing her as “good looking”, and just “doing what she was told”. All false and based on statements totally out of context.
Obama keeps referring to McCain’s joke that making $5 million was the definition of “rich”, as if it were a policy statement.
McCain claims that Obama wants to teach comprehensive sex education to kindergartners, when the bill actually focused on teaching them how to avoid sex predators.
An Obama ad running in Michigan says that McCain refused to support loan guarantees for the auto industry, which had been true, but McCain changed his position long before this ad came out.
Come on, guys! I don’t expect you to always say nice things about each other, but let’s try to keep a little closer to the truth! It makes you both look bad.
Asking politicians not to lie is like asking the sun not to shine. It’s what they do. It’s how they get elected. It’s what they do after being elected. It’s what they do to get re-elected.
The saddest part is the fact that many voters make up their minds about candidates based on these ads.
Comment by Richard — September 20, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
I agree with both of you on this issue. Another thing that gets to me is how the partisans on each side ignore the stuff you’ve posted here, but I guess you should expect that.
There was an article in the LA Times today about how much of a puff article Sean Hannity did with Palin. The guy referred to Hannity as a “newsman”. That’s far from the case. He’s a commentator and he’s extremely partisan. I didn’t expect any hard questions just like I didn’t expect Charlie to be nice to her. Neither one disappointed.
Comment by Don — September 20, 2008 @ 5:17 pm
Please replace “puff article” with “puff interview” in the above comment.
Comment by Don — September 20, 2008 @ 5:19 pm
This is the part I like least about any election. It would be great if folks could stand for what they believe and voters would vote based on that and not the misleading information provided by the parties.
Comment by Heather — September 20, 2008 @ 7:49 pm
And now, I’m getting phone calls on which proposition to vote which way. I vote by mail, and long after my vote has been mailed, they are calling and requesting my vote.
I can’t imagine anyone not being positive about which candidate is getting their vote, at this late date.
Comment by Mom — September 20, 2008 @ 10:20 pm
There’s some hope that the greater access to the internet and organizations such as factcheck.org and politifact.com may improve clarity and understanding about the truth, but on the other hand viral emails claiming that Obama is a Muslim, or listing the books Palin purportedly wanted censored, probably offset any gains, perhaps making the internet a net wash.
And I guess the people ready to believe the emails are less likely to go to neutral sites to get the truth anyway.
Comment by Daryl — September 21, 2008 @ 10:22 am
You mean Obama isn’t a Muslim???
😉
Comment by Don — September 21, 2008 @ 10:42 am
I totally agree! I wish that the attack ads would totally stop, but unfortunately, research shows that they work. But at least tell the truth! There is plenty of true stuff to attack on both sides of the fence.
Unfortunately, the fate of our country once again comes down to the know-nothing undecided voters, who are more likely to vote on whoever makes them feel good than the actual issues.
Comment by Robin — September 21, 2008 @ 1:45 pm
I was just reading an article yesterday citing the fact that most people claim to hate them, but negative ads are effective. I’m sure glad Arizona is not a swing state, because we get only 1/100th the number of televised political ads that they do.
Comment by Donna — September 22, 2008 @ 10:22 am
We don’t get many here either.
Comment by Don — September 23, 2008 @ 7:22 am
And, unfortunately, dirty campaigning has been and always will be with us. It’s not like there’s anything new under the sun.
The number of telephone ad calls my folks get is unbelievable. I know they’re programmed to call every registered Republican or Democrat but it would be nice if it were somehow tied into the County Clerk’s office and they would stop once you’ve voted.
Comment by Dianna — September 23, 2008 @ 7:53 am