Much has been said about negative campaigning in this year’s election. The mainstream media professes that it’s about equal on both sides of the political spectrum. Is this really so? Democrats, and in particular the Obama administration, have taken negative campaigning to new lows. If one examines President Obama’s background it’s easy to understand why. When his experience was questioned in the 2008 election his supporters were quick to cite his many “community organizer” activities.
Saul Alinsky, a 1930s far left activist wrote “Rules for Radicals”, which outlines how to bring about radical changes to our political system of government through “community organizing.” These include: 1) “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.” 2) Keep the pressure on, don’t relent.” 11) If you push a negative hard and deep enough it will break through into its counter side.”; 13) “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.”
Does any of this sound familiar? It certainly should! Obama’s campaign regularly follows these rules. They were used to smear Sarah Palin and her family in 2008 and are now being used against the Romney/Ryan ticket. Examples include: “Romney hasn’t paid income taxes for 10 years.” “Ann Romney hasn’t worked a day in her life.” “Romney caused the cancer death of a laid off steel worker’s wife.” “Romney is a felon.” “Ryan wants to end Medicare,” etc. If you can’t run on your record, Obama’s strategy is to run down his opponent. Hopefully the majority of voters will reject his Chicago-style politics.
Robert Johnston
Camano Island
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