So That's Life?

I’ve been hearing a lot of people complain about what they term negative campaigning. These same people tell me that they only want to hear a candidate say what they have done in the past and what they will do in the future. Basically, they want a resume recital. It seems to me that if anyone attempts to draw any contrast to their opponent, it suddenly falls into the category of negative.

In this fantasy-land scenario, these voters are practically begging to be lied to. “Sure”, says candidate A, “I promise you clear skies, smooth roads, no taxes, and a perfect future if you vote for me”. If candidate B says, “Candidate A is lying to you because he has no skills to to change the weather, no funds to repair roads, and no fiscal plan to eliminate taxes”, suddenly, B is labeled a negative campaigner. Welcome to Hawaii, ground-zero for passive/aggressive behavior in the Pacific.

I’m not even going to try and pretend to understand this mentality because I want candidates who clearly delineate differences and donʻt make me guess where they stand on an issue. I want candidates who arenʻt afraid to point out that their opponent has lied and will continue to do so if left unchecked. I also want a candidate who isn’t afraid to paint a picture of what the world will look like if their opponent is elected. Especially if that world is full of cronies that have been hiding under the candidate’s skirt during the election.

In a nutshell, hereʻs my take on what does and does not constitute negative campaigning.

Negative Campaigning Is:

* Unfounded or unprovable accusations

* Unflattering stories about family members

* Modifying photos to make an opponent look sinister

* Harping repeatedly on a single issue to the exclusion of all else

* Questioning an opponent’s character based on here say

Negative Campaigning Is Not:

* Comparing and contrasting past performance

* Questioning plans and asking for specifics

* Highlighting ethical lapses that, while not illegal, indicate problems

So, if you can handle a little difference of opinion, stop whining about negative campaigning and vote for a candidate that actually wants to do something instead of telling you what you want to hear.

Maybe it’s just the fact that this is an election year but it seems to me that we’re losing the capacity to engage in reasonable discussions. It isn’t just online blather that bothers me. It’s the adversarial tone I see on television and in comments by public figures reported on the news.

I was brought up in a house where my parents set a great example by not raising their voice to make a point. I was talking to a friend who told me that her family always sits down to dinner and, along with their food, they talk about their day. Like my family growing up, they understand how important it is to share a meal and their lives. How else do you learn that screaming at someone isn’t acceptable?

The four most beautiful words in our common language–I told you so
Gore Vidal

I was reading some of the obituary pieces on Gore Vidal when I saw this quote. I didn’t know much about him but after reading, I could see how his “celebrity” mannerisms had become the template for bad behavior everywhere. All I have to do is watch a Sunday news show to see some pundit dying to say, “I told you so.” Every politician has to tell us how he has the only accurate vision of the future and amazingly, the public buys it.

I’ve had to learn the hard way that sometimes, no matter how right I am, I’m not going to convince someone of my point. When this happens, I’ve really got no choice but to be adult enough to swallow my pride and just walk away. Hopefully, there will be other days and other ways to win an argument. I think we should demand this same behavior from politicians running for office. Show that you really understand a topic by accepting that there can possibly be two sides to an argument. This “my way or the highway” attitude is for petulant children, not adults who want my vote.

If you agree that civility has a place in our society, tune out the noise and make an effort to find news and information that will allow you to make smart choices. If you don’t, you’re just one of many who I’m not going to convince that lack of civility is a curse that will lead to your demise. I can live with that.