Posted by
John Sides on Friday, October 27, 2006 12:47:02 AM
As I post my first entry on this blog, I find myself shaking my head at the negative and downright dirty campaigning on both sides of the aisle (unless you are in Minnesota, in which case, there are 3 sides in some races).
I'm entertained and disgusted at the same time when campaign ads pull statements, vote history, and political views out of context and create what amounts to a lie to smear an opponent solely for political gain and political power.
We need to hold candidates accountable for the context for statements made about the opposing candidate(s). Not to mention the unflattering photos and video footage that accompanies those ads.
When a statement, vote history, or stand on an issue is pulled out of context, it has the strong potential to perpetuate a lie against an opponent.
If you have to perpetuate a lie to get elected, you don't deserve to be elected to an office that demands (or should demand) the highest level of conduct and integrity. With that elected office comes responsibility.
Some of my friends and I used to make the joke, "Are you lying? Do you know where liars go?" and we would respond jokingly, "Yeah, Washington."
With recent scandals in both parties in power, that joke is not funny anymore. These are serious times. We need to hold our elected officials accountable to a higher standard of conduct and integrity. We need leaders that are above reproach.
Truth will always win out in the end. It may lose a few battles along the way, but it will win the war (sorry, it's late when I'm writing this and that is the only analogy I could come up with).
If anyone actually reads this post among all the great blogs that are already on this forum, please feel free to comment. Just please be cordial, friendly, and civil when commenting as I will if I were to comment on your posts.
Thanks for listening.