A Surfeit of Slimeballs
Even though I do have a little first-hand experience of US political campaigning, I still get shocked at just how vicious and negative US political tv ads can be.
The NYT has a very illuminating set of campaign videos up – well worth a look to get a flavour of how campaigning is going. The videos come from both sides of the fence, but the one that made the most impression on me is that of Tom Reynolds, who makes a straight-to-the-camera apology for fucking up on Foley. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone look quite so embarassingly insincere since Ricky Gervais. And George Allen? What a nasty piece of work. Every inch the oily, bigoted ‘southern’ pol.
The most effective I felt was the simplest and probably the least expensive and I hate to say that it was from a Republican, Joe O’Donnell. He said little substantive on politics but let his youthful and engaging personality speak very effectively and was upbeat about cleaning up Washington (yes, I realise that’s hilarious from a wingnut). I think he’ll appeal to a lot of core Republican voters who want change but just can’t bring themselves to vote Dem.
It must be horribly difficult for US voters whose lives don’t allow for time to be particularly well-informed – ie most people with jobs and kids and a life – who must necessarily get their political news and views from the mass media, to get any real idea of where the parties stand on any concrete issues at all, if this is a representative sample of how campaigns are being run.
Unfortunately, when one side (and it has generally been the Republicans) ratchets up the viciousness the other is almost bound to respond if only to counter the lies. Political campaigning has because of this become a mass-media arms race with no end in sight, whatever happens in the actual elections. It’s an industry now and just like other industries that rely on politics for their wherewithal (like its close siblings the arms industry and lobbying) it’s a colosssal sinkhole for more and more public cash.
Read more: US Politics, Video, Congressional elections, Campaign ads
