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Was there ever a time in U.S. politics when opposing candidates’ strengths were center stage?

edited October 25 in Off-Topic
Ad blitz. But both seem intent only on tearing down the other. Is this a recent phenomenon? I suspect not. But as a kid I can’t remember Eisenhower, Kennedy, Goldwater, or even Nixon, for that matter, airing ads that are 90% negative.

Yes, I know that when a convicted felon awaiting sentencing is on one side it’s hard. But I’d cast Harris’s so much differently. Stress all her accomplishments and aspirations. Quote people who know her praising her. Do some (labor) rope-lines or McQuack drop-ins to demonstrate her support for the working class (most Americans).

Aside - I think it was dumb of her in the recent CNN “town hall” to let Pooper Cooper bait her into stating flatly that Trump is “a fascist”. Who’s minds is that going to change? Let the very capable people beneath her lofty stature bend down and perform the necessary toilet bowl cleaning. Kelly said it better anyway. Stay Presidential. Choose your words carefully.

Comments

  • edited October 25
    +1 @hank,

    Most negative ads are borderline to mostly bs and I don';t believe that they do much of anything other than rile the opposing side up. However, 45 and his allies have shown repeatedly that if you tell a lie often enough many folks are going to believe that it must be true.

    As an aside, how much of the population could tell you what a fascist is or what it might mean to be one.
  • edited October 25
    However, 45 and his allies have shown repeatedly that if you tell a lie often enough many folks are going to believe that it must be true.

    ...Enter uncle Joey Goebbels.
    ...how much of the population could tell you what a fascist is or what it might mean to be one

    Not enough to be able to assert that we have any sort of educated populace today. Dumbed-down standards everywhere. I know for a fact that teachers in some (many? All?) school districts are prohibited from flunking students.

    Negative ads:
    I recall the nuclear mushroom cloud ad with the little girl and the petals of the flower used by LBJ, and it destroyed Goldwater's chances. I'm neither solidly conserv. nor liberal. Years later, I watched Dick Cavett repeatedly host uncle Barry as a guest on late night TV. The man had political opinions I might not agree with, but he was not the devil incarnate. Thoughtful. A Republican. With a backbone, unlike so very many Repugnants today. Died in 1998.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Goldwater

    And YES: it certainly WOULD be nice to get back to an environment in which candidates elucidated upon their POLICY positions. Trumpster is unfit, beyond all telling. Harris could be doing much more to inform people about her desired initiatives and policies. For the life of me, I can't see how most people who've been polled think the Orange Felon would serve the economy better than Harris. But then I remember: the American public could not think their way out of a paper bag. The war in Gaza/Lebanon (and what's the next location?) is going to drag on Harris. Support for Israel ought not amount to support for genocide. She and Joe have made it clear---at last--- that the war needs to end. Yet, still the weapons are being sent to Israel. Contradiction, much??? Their effect on uncle Bibi, who is himself under criminal investigation? ZERO. The USA possesses not an iota of its former influence.
  • Thanks @Crash. I remember that mushroom cloud Ad myself now that you mention it.
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