The Politics of Negativity

[politicasista]

The politics of negativity



Melvin B. Miller
Editor & Publisher


Voters are now beginning to focus on the campaign for president. Recent polls show shrinking leads for the presumed frontrunners and a closer-than-expected race in both parties. It is time for voters to pay even closer attention to the conduct of the candidates. The strategies they employ as the races tighten provide some insight into the contenders’ character.

It is customary to package a candidate, just as you would a product to be sold by a Madison Avenue advertising agency. Research determines the issues on the minds of the voters and the weaknesses of the opponents. The campaign then develops a theme, to be repeated in television and newspaper advertisements and persistently emphasized by the candidate — called “staying on message” — in speeches and interviews.

Hillary Clinton’s theme was that she is the candidate with experience, acquired as first lady and as senator from New York. Her implication was that Barack Obama is not qualified to be president because of a lack of experience. This worked for a while because the Clinton name was already famous and Barack Obama was not then well known throughout America.

However, Obama was able to recognize Americans’ disdain for partisan bickering in Washington and for the alienation of the people from government. His theme was change. Obama promised a government of reconciliation that was transparent and operated for the benefit of the citizens, rather than just corporate interests.


http://www.baystatebanner.com/issues/2008/01/03/editorial01030801.htm

[MasonJar]

1. Reconciliation with the GOPers, who have demeaned the very name of

DEMOCRACY? No way! Leadership in the future needs to "LEAD" us away from the policies of greed and deception to a NEW AWAKENING for peace and charity. Very few republics in power care about anything but the almighty dollar and the corporations which provide them to their bank accounts and campaigns.