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Politics is not something I ever talk about here and I promise I am not really going to start now. I will not be talking about who I am going to vote for and I won't be telling anyone else who they should vote for. That doesn't mean I am not interested or that I don't have an opinion. It is just something I won't be doing here.
A side bar to the recent tragic theater shootings in Colorado is that, for a few days, both presidential candidates suspended their television advertising in our state. Both campaigns said it was time to focus on the victims, not on politics. Given the vitriol of the ads we had been seeing having them suspended has been a very good thing. They have or will start being shown again and I'm sure they will be just as bad as before.
What hasn't stopped, and the real point of my post, is the constant e-mail and Facebook postings that demean, make fun of, debase, degrade, or try to show the party or candidate they are opposed to in as negative a way as possible. Most people, when asked, say that they are opposed to negative campaigning, yet these vituperative postings spread from in-box to in-box all across the internet. Some are done in a humorous way and some are just plain nasty. None of them, in my opinion, do anything to benefit the political process.
I am all in favor of political discussion, but I wish it could be done in a more civil way. If we want our political parties to find a way to campaign without using ads attacking their opponent maybe a good place for that to begin is with the voters and their communication with one another.
Is your vote influenced by internet communication that is demeaning or degrading to a candidate?
I'm with you. I can't stand any of it. I say attack the argument, not the speaker. Why must we demean each other as people instead of discussing the issues? And why must candidates always define themselves in opposition to each other?
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanie, Great post and like you I generally won't comment on which side of the fence I'm on. We now mute the t.v. when the ads come on. As for letting a negative cartoon/communication influence my thinking-no, however I have read a lot lately on past comments made by a candidate(such as being against the flag)and that has influenced me.
ReplyDeleteHave a good evening.
Hugs, Noreen
I too steer clear on my blog but something set me off this week and I have a post brewing. I think I'll post it tomorrow but I'll see how I feel when I re-read it : ) I think we have completely lost the plot!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you, but sadly it appears that whether the candidates like it or not, negative ads seem to work. I hate the vitriol that are on the air waves these days, but unfortunately they appear to be here to stay.
ReplyDeleteAnd no, my vote is not influenced by negative campaigning. If anything, it turns me off to the person doing it.
ReplyDeleteMy vote isn't too influenced by negative campaign ads, I just wish both parties, no matter who is running for what, would agree not to resort to such tactics. Its really demeaning I think for them to do so. I fear its going to be a long haul of them between now and November.
ReplyDeletebetty
I'm with you - I just don't like all the negative ads. Sandie
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you! I am a bit sick of the email and facebook assaults. After receiving a very negative email again one of the candidate the other day, I was just plain fed up. I went to snopes and sent the evidence on how bogus the email was back to the sender. I also attached a short statement about how disappointed I was that I would be sent such bunk in the first place, and stated that I was further disappointed that people believe this trash. I received profuse apologies, and I bet I don't get any more emails from this person.
ReplyDeleteyou are so right...why can't they just stick to what needs to be done to make our country better...not attack each other...or families...all that money that is being spent on the negative ads...could be used to fix what is wrong with our economy...
ReplyDeleteSo well said! I hate the negativity and vitriol, and that extends to friends/family who treat you are like you are uninformed and a moron if you don't agree with their choice. They're all for freedom of speech and choice until you speak against their choice! As for the campaign ads, I don't even hear them anymore and they in no way influence my vote.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much garbage on the Internet when it comes to politics (and so many other things) that during election season I turn a blind eye to it. But I so dislike the candidates bashing each other. That's just tacky. Ugh.
ReplyDeletexo jj
I am sooo on the same page. You can not discuss politics with anyone today.. People either agree with you or get so upset that you could vote for **** or **** that they just walk away. The stuff on facebook is horrible on both sides!
ReplyDeleteI like both candidates, I just agree with one's policies more than the other.
You said it very well. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI am so sick of politics. Period. I try to only watch pubic TV (hard at Olympic time!) and I put a note on my door telling street stumpers that anyone who left something tucked inside my door or attached to the handle would result in the loss of a vote (or sale -- door-to-doors get me, too!). I'll be so glad when it is all over. You stated your point so well. I do so agree!
ReplyDeleteI would love to see a politician who could run on his/her own merits without having to mud sling. (It makes me wonder if any of them HAVE any merits!)
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