Not a Big Truck

Over the years, and particularly during the 2000 and 2004 election seasons that featured Karl Rove at the helm of the GOP nuclear campaign submarine, I have had many discussions with friends about the nastiness of political campaigning.  Often, these conversations have concluded with some variation on the theme, “Sure, the Republicans are experts at mudslinging and dirty tricks, but the Democrats do their share of that stuff too.”

I guess that is probably true, especially if you take a step back and look at the broader sweep of history, not just a few elections.  But in recent years, and in this election, I think the Republicans really are worse.  Dishonest.  Shameless.  Relentless.

The McCain camp has made a big deal of Michelle Obama’s “For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country” comment, and in recent weeks of Barack Obama’s remark that for the McCain-Palin ticket to claim the mantle of change is like putting “lipstick on a pig.”  Any reasonable observer will acknowledge that Obama was not calling Sarah Palin a pig, but rather saying that the policies of McCain (and by extension Palin) are the pig that cannot be dressed up to masquerade as change.  But the Republicans will not shut up about it.

On the other hand, Meghan McCain went on the Today Show and said, “No one knows what war is like other than my family, period!”

I don’t need to harp about how awful that is.  But what has the Obama campaign’s response been, as far as I know?  To their immense credit: nothing.  They are not trying to make an issue out of what a member of McCain’s family said.  Meghan McCain isn’t on the ticket.  The Obama campaign wants to have a discussion about the issues and not about the silly, thoughtless, ultimately insignificant remarks that are inevitably made by people on both sides.  Maybe that’s “soft,” but it makes me proud to be affiliated with the Democrats and not with the GOP of Rove, Atwater, and their disciples.

This video has been making its way onto a number of blogs today.

It is incredible the extent to which The Daily Show gets it relative to other television media sources.

Just wanted to share a couple ads from the Obama campaign.  Solid and tough.  The ad about housing seems to be somewhat opposed to the Obama politics, but I think it is fair in light of the fact that McCain has been trying to paint Obama as out of touch. It is a nice counter.

 Also, as an aside, I am beginning to wonder whether the sort of post-Rovian politics that Obama seems to represent can actually succeed in a general election.  In the primary it can work, because those that are voting are generally well-informed or, at the very least, pay attention.  In the general election, the battle is over anywhere from 5 to 10 percent of the electorate that doesn’t pay attention to current events or politics until after the conventions (if even then).  But, this 5-10 percent of the electorate, the “undecided voter” may not have the opportunity or the inclination to fully immerse themselves in the information and the issues at hand, which means quick soundbites and tough, stereotyping ads carry a lot of weight with those who may only superficially follow current events or politics. Such negative tactics may be necessary in a nation where the 5-10% of the electorate that determines the outcome of the election is simply not well-informed.

It’s sad, but maybe Rovian politics isn’t a result of Rove/Atwater, but a reality produced by underlying realities in our democracy.