I've lived in Florida for thirty eight (38) years, have been registered to vote for the past Thirty five (35) and this seemed to have been one of the nattiest political seasons I can remember. When asked people will say that they hate the nasty attack ads, after all this is the politically correct answer but is it true?
If asked if it is true that we hate nasty attack ads, my answer to that question is a resounding NO! By the same token politicians will tell you that they don't like attack ads, they're different, and they are going to run a positive campaign. Watch how long that will last, if a politician wants to win eventually they will have to run a counter ad. It is unfortunate but people have the same philosophy about politicians as they do about defendants when serving on a jury, if the politician doesn’t respond and deny the attack then it must be true (just as if a defendant doesn’t testify on their own behalf they must be guilty).
It sort of reminds me of the 2000 Presidential Election. It seemed as if when asked everyone said that they did not vote for George W. Bush, yet he was elected. Before you Gore supporters, or Bush haters jump on your soap box and start fighting that election again my point is votes were cast for G.W. despite the massive denials to the contrary (this was proved by the Miami Herald and their news partners that spent over a quarter of a million dollars to have all Florida ballots counted, even the “hanging chads”).
I began drafting this post following the Florida Primary Elections in August, but then decided to wait realizing that the end hadn’t yet arrived. Since then the commercials for various campaigns have not let me down, they are nasty, distorting the truth, and planting the seed so that when someone attempts to correct the record the voters will heed the old adage “My mind’s made up don’t confuse me with facts.
If negative ads didn’t work politicians wouldn’t use them. These negative ads are great at what they are designed to do, which is not to point out what a bad person the opponent is, they are to distract the voters from my candidate’s problems, distract people so that I (the candidate) won’t be asked about issues until I have a survey tested response. They also keep the opponent from talking about the issues; it also causes voters to think that the opponent is desperate if they run an ad about what I’ve done wrong. Instead of questioning what I may have done or if there is any truth to what is being said they will feel sorry for me.
I don’t care how much good a person has done in public life, or how much good they have done in their current post (if they currently hold public office) if they try to run a positive campaign and not be the first to go negative they will not be elected.
If you think I’m wrong I have two words for you, Bill McCollum, he is not the Republican candidate for Governor in Florida. Don’t think that I’m just a Republican, or a McCollum supporter that is crying foul, the democrats are just as bad. Look at what is happening, accusations are made and when a reporter asks what proof the person has the response is can you prove I’m wrong (Face the Nation October 10, 2010).
I said that this is the nastiest campaign that I can remember, but it is not a recent phenomenon; it can be traced all the way back to the first elections in this country. The only difference is now it’s the internet instead of a pamphlet. If that’s going too far back, how about Al Smith? He was about to be elected President in 1928 until a few weeks before the election campaign material began talking about his being a Catholic, or LBJ’s daisy ad against Barry Goldwater, or George H.W. Bush’s Willie Horton ad? You see it is not just Republican, not just Democrat, and not generational, it’s all of us.
How can this be stopped, or can it be stopped? I hope I’m wrong, but I doubt it, we are addicted to it, it is our drug of choice and we love the sensation!
THAT’S MY OPINION, WHAT’S YOURS
About Me
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- James N. Mann
- I retired after completing 38 years as a law enforcement officer in the State of Florida. I began my law enforcement career with the City of Miami, where I served for nearly 27 years before serving with a state agency for 11 1/2 years (part of that time as Interim Inspector General). During my career with Miami I worked in uniform patrol, the detective bureau, and the 911 center. I was also a member of the first law enforcement crew to respond to New York City on September 11, 2001. From January 2007 to April 2011 I also served as a commissioner on the state commission that governs the certification of law enforcement, correctional and probation officers in the state. I am a Past President of the Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police (President 2004-2006); I was an employee representative with Miami FOP Lodge #20 for almost 21 years (6 years serving at the Chief Steward). I have worked on legislative issues at all levels, worked on political screening committees. I’m a past member of the Dade County Republican Executive Committee, and have been an advisor/ law enforcement liaison for a presidential candidate..
