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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on October 28, 2006, at 15:11:16
Obviously, with the election coming up here in the United States, there are a lot of political ads on television. Mostly, I can tune them out, but sometimes they sink into my consciousness.
This morning, there was something about one campaign, in Virginia, on MSNBC. They had two political strategists discussing that race, one from each major party. One candidate was attacking the other based on one or more novels he wrote many years ago that were apparently rather racy. I wasn't paying much attention to the issue -- mostly because I don't know that I consider it much of an issue, really -- but I was disturbed by the tone of the whole thing. (Mostly, that both of the strategists were talking over one another and the interviewer. Just, you know, bad manners on both sides...)
Anyway, that got me thinking about that sort of campaign. You know, the kind where the ads don't really talk about what the candidate wants to accomplish, what sort of vision the candidate wants to bring to office, but attacks the opponent -- often on rather vague grounds. (Innuendo often works wonders, it seems. Anyone familiar with Everett Dirksen's campaigns?) (And Dr Bob? I think that is civil -- I very much doubt we have any active Everett Dirksen supporters here, and his campaigns were actually used as examples of that sort of thing in campaigns, at least when I was in school. Besides, I knew one of his nephews, so he's practically family, right? :-P ) There seem to be a lot of them around here right now, even some by candidates I support and respect.
I was wondering, though, whether that sort of negative campaign influenced people? And then, of course, I wondered why I'd never thought to wonder about that before? Hm...
Anyone out there want to chime in? Tell me whether you think you're influenced, in either direction, by negative campaign ads? How do you feel about it?
Thanks!
Posted by Jost on October 28, 2006, at 18:08:33
In reply to Political attack ads?, posted by Racer on October 28, 2006, at 15:11:16
I'm not influenced by them-- but we never have them here.
It's probably because most political races in NY are no-brainers-- it's obvious who's going to win,, and by a landslide--
so no one bothers with ads.
And in Presidential years-- NY isn't a battleground state-- it's blue as blue can be== so the presidential candidate never show ads. I can't remember seeing even one in the last presidential cycle.
I don't think they'd influence me per se-- since my mind is pretty made up-- although they could inflame my preferences, I guess. Except that they're already pretty inflamed--
But then, again-- getting out the base in NY doesn't do much.
Jost
Posted by fayeroe on October 28, 2006, at 19:03:30
In reply to Re: Political attack ads?, posted by Jost on October 28, 2006, at 18:08:33
i'm not affected by negative ads. i long ago noticed that the ads spin off into something so far from what the election should be about that i just tune them out.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taylor-marsh/george-allens-desperatio_b_32593.html
here is a link about the ad that you're talking about.......
Posted by Dinah on October 29, 2006, at 9:55:38
In reply to Political attack ads?, posted by Racer on October 28, 2006, at 15:11:16
Unless I really like the candidate for other reasons, and am willing to overlook the dependence on questionable campaign advice, or unless both candidates are engaging equally, it backfires on me. In the last election, there was a race that could go either way for me in that I wasn't too fond of anyone. I chose the one who wasn't responding in kind to negative ads.
But pandering bothers me just as much. I was at a meeting led by a candidate I had immense respect for and had supported more than I usually support any candidate. I was appalled to find this intelligent sophisticated person clearly pandering to the not necessarily progressive ideas of his audience. At least he wasn't good enough at it to hide the fact that he was doing it.
It is so rare that I find a candidate I respect both for outward platforms and also when I see the candidate at smaller forums where flaws are more visible. I think at the moment, the number of living politicians that I wholeheartedly support number exactly one. And I nervously wonder if I know him well enough.
But if push comes to shove, I'd rather vote for a candidate who doesn't hold the same viewpoint on issues but who shows clear strength of character and integrity. On those occasions where that's an option. :)
Posted by Racer on October 29, 2006, at 13:28:14
In reply to Re: Political attack ads? » Racer, posted by Dinah on October 29, 2006, at 9:55:38
>
> It is so rare that I find a candidate I respect both for outward platforms and also when I see the candidate at smaller forums where flaws are more visible. I think at the moment, the number of living politicians that I wholeheartedly support number exactly one. And I nervously wonder if I know him well enough.
>lol I'm rather amazed you could find even one, Dinah...
Honestly, I've only voted for two presidential candidates in my life. One in 1984, one in 2004. And I felt as though I was doing pretty good, finding two I could vote for... (The rest of the time, I've voted against the candidate I disliked or distrusted more...)
I got a very surprising and intriguing voicemail the other day, though. A local candidate called personally to leave a message asking me to call and tell him what my concerns were and what it would take for him to earn my vote. I'll be looking into his campaign now, and I'm certainly inclined to look favorably at him...
Ah, Politics... :^)
Posted by Jost on October 29, 2006, at 21:43:07
In reply to Re: Political attack ads? lol » Dinah, posted by Racer on October 29, 2006, at 13:28:14
Attack ads work, though, in general.
Don't know why, since the attacks are rarely about positions on the issues.
At the moment, the Virginia senatorial race has turned into one of mostly irrelevant attacks-- for the moment, everyone is pondering what one candidate wrote in a novel 20 years ago, vs whether the other candidate was arrested for parking tickets ...or something more sinister.........who knows what????.....30 years ago.
I groping for an I statement here. I guess: I'd like to hear more about their positions at the present time-- well, unless the dirt "my" candidate throws is more effective than the dirt "the other" candidate does- and otherwise my candidate has no chance of winning....
then maybe well dirt is the way to go...
unless Dinah is more typical than they say--
I tend to vote issues, not character, myself-- unless the character part is related to an issue-- or is so heinous as to be beyond a lot of pales.
(I'm not a Virginia resident-- but I hung out there for a while-- and my SigO's Mother lives there.)
Jost
Posted by Racer on October 30, 2006, at 10:04:29
In reply to Re: Political attack ads? lol, posted by Jost on October 29, 2006, at 21:43:07
>
> I tend to vote issues, not character, myself-- unless the character part is related to an issue-- or is so heinous as to be beyond a lot of pales.
>Just as a quick question about this: would character be involved if a candidate was running on a Family Values platform, but was being accused of infidelity, or sexual harrassment, or taking bribes? Something that really didn't seem consistent with that position?
I'm just musing here...
Here in California, there's one candidate who seems to be running on the platform that he lost weight...
Posted by Dinah on October 30, 2006, at 13:12:21
In reply to Re: Political attack ads? » Jost, posted by Racer on October 30, 2006, at 10:04:29
Now this is an aside, sort of. Because it's not at all attacking.
But I always wonder at not only political advertisements but business ones as well that only seem to show the advertiser with his family without mentioning anything of substance.
My husband and I ask each other if the message is "Vote for me (Use my services); I have motile sperm."
Does the mere presence of offspring indicate some character trait that they're trying to showcase?
I mean, I'm not complaining exactly. Smiling youngsters are always pleasant to see. And the backdrop is usually pleasing to the eye as well. I'm just confused by the message.
Posted by Racer on October 31, 2006, at 12:59:00
In reply to Re: Political attack ads?, posted by Dinah on October 30, 2006, at 13:12:21
> Now this is an aside, sort of. Because it's not at all attacking.
>
> But I always wonder at not only political advertisements but business ones as well that only seem to show the advertiser with his family without mentioning anything of substance.
>
> My husband and I ask each other if the message is "Vote for me (Use my services); I have motile sperm."
>LOL! Have you seen the new AARP ad? It shows a guy singing and dancing through his campaign, very bright teeth, lovely wife -- and the message of the ad is "vote for issues, not personality." It's very funny, and a very smart way to get that idea across without being insulting. I liked it tremendously.
Posted by Racer on November 2, 2006, at 15:13:56
In reply to Re: Political attack ads?, posted by Dinah on October 30, 2006, at 13:12:21
You know, the guy who's running all the ads about having lost 70 pounds is running positive ads. He may not have much more to say -- he does say some other things, but honestly, how much can you say about Insurance Commissioner? What he is saying, though, is positive and doesn't attack anyone.
So, maybe my view of his ads has modified some...
Still don't know whom I'll vote for, though...
Posted by Dinah on November 2, 2006, at 15:19:06
In reply to I realized something about the weight loss guy, posted by Racer on November 2, 2006, at 15:13:56
> He may not have much more to say -- he does say some other things, but honestly, how much can you say about Insurance Commissioner?
rofl.
You obviously don't come from these parts. Insurance commissioner is a pretty big deal. And commercials generally focus on integrity. :)
http://www.insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?a=top_news&id=57316
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