Political junk mail
It's not only the TV attack ads that are driving down the tone of this campaign season.
The garbage delivered by mail stinks, too.
Two examples that arrived yesterday:
* A flier headlined "2008 North Carolina Voter Guide" makes you think at first it contains useful nonpartisan information. Open it up and you quckly find out otherwise. It offers a one-sided comparison of gubernatorial candidates Pat McCrory and Bev Perdue, totally unfavorable to Perdue. Paid for by the Republican Governors Association. Hey, RGA. You're entitled to mail out whatever you want, but don't try to hoodwink voters by dressing it up as something it's not.
* A flier featuring a large close-up picture of Liddy Dole (with a very unflattering expression) and the word MISSING stamped in red across her forehead. "Tacky," said my teacher wife, even though she definitely doesn't support Dole. "It's from NCAE," I tell her. "Your dues paid for it." Tacky AND embarrassing. Come on, NCAE. Have a little respect for your membership.
Comments (4)
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Agreed Doug. What I don't understand is why, as a loyal Republican, the GOP sees fit to send me anti-liberal mail. One would think they would feel comfortable and secure with my vote and spend money recruiting independents and Democratic votes.
The junk piling up in my floor against "liberal Kay Hagan" is enough to stink up the house.
I'm thinking we should cap all total spending per campaign and force the candidates to Lincoln-Douglas style town halls in their respective election districts.
Posted on October 28, 2008 10:16 AM
One ousy Dole-Hagan debate, and that was when? Back in June? A very disappointing Senate campaign from that perspective.
Posted on October 28, 2008 10:22 AM
I think you guys are on to something there. I have said for some time, spending caps, term limits and large truly non partisan public debates are in order. The "forums" we see now are mostly ambush sites for one agenda or another.
Posted on October 28, 2008 4:27 PM
One thing people fail to realize is the art of misinformation, subterfuge, and social engineering are so well developed that its practically a science. One book that really helped me understand this concept was by someone who worked deep in the intelligence field, Carl Sagan.
For instance my understanding of psychology it is much easier to destroy someone elses character than it is to build your own positive self image, attack a message or idea. Take for instance Joe the Plumber while his own opinions are based on his own social demographic he made one valid point on the transfer of wealth, for that the media started digging through his past to attack his character.
I often wonder what people think when they place 5+ placards in their yard endorsing one party or the other; what is going through their head?
Posted on October 29, 2008 7:50 AM