It has been noted here on various occasions that negative ads dominate American politics. We've also remarked that we believe most Americans would rather hear a candidate's plan for what he/she will do if elected than a relentless attack on an opponent.
It has even reached the stage where "generic" attack ads are flooding the airwaves. A faceless voice talks about unscrupulous politicians who take gobs of money from corporations to do "favors" for those companies. (A big wad of money appears on screen.)
Now the unscrupulous politician who is taking the money is never named, the bribing corporations aren't named, and you don't know who he/she is until you see who paid for the ad.
"Why that must be old mudslinger's opponent who takes all that corporate cash," you figure out when you see the ad was created and approved by good old Mud. Yup, we've tarnished someone's name without even naming him. How inventive.
Finally, though, an effort is being made to let our candidates know we are sick of negative ads. An organization call CivilityInAmerica.org is attempting to get signatures on an online petition to present to members of both parties to let them know Americans want the tone of our campaigns to change.
Established by the Knights of Columbus, the petition is online at www.civilityinamerica.org.
The organization claims:
78 percent of Americans are frustrated with the tone of political campaigns;
64 percent say negative ads are hurting our political process;
74 percent say that negative campaigning is getting worse.
If you are tired off all the mudslinging in our political process, check out this website and find out about this effort.
* Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.
