Campaign ads aren’t always what they seem
The election is over, but bad sentiment no doubt lingers for a number of candidates immersed in negative campaigns.
The Democratic Primary between 4th District congressional candidates Lincoln Davis and Fran Marcum immediately comes to mind when thinking about negative advertising. That race got downright nasty and that is an unfortunate side of politics.
Negative campaigning is nothing new. It’s been around for decades and centuries, so don’t expect these tactics to disappear anytime soon.
That’s why it’s important to take these ads with a grain of salt. Let the buyer beware, so to speak.
The local election may be over but we’re only halfway through the state and national races. The candidates who advanced are sure to catch their breath and prepare for the next battle leading up to the November election.
As voters, we must realize some politicians choose to paint a picture which might not be entirely accurate. We have even seen that with ads on the local level.
This is all too easy to do if it means the candidate might gain a few extra votes. It’s tempting to bend the truth or twist history just a bit if it enhances the chances of getting elected.
Truthful political advertising can be thought of as an oxymoron. Campaigns are so filled with inaccurate information and deception, it is what’s given politics a bad name. It’s what makes people think of politicians as dirty.
Negative campaigning creates negative feelings, both among the candidates themselves and the voters the ads are attempting to sway. Ultimately, a number of people feel such mud slinging hurts the integrity of the candidates.
It is something to consider, especially when these candidates could represent our county, our region and our state. When candidates such as Fran Marcum and Lincoln Davis seem to do nothing more than bash each other repeatedly, it raises the question are these the best people we can find to represent the 4th District in Washington? Is this as good as it gets?
Politics can indeed be a nasty business. And much of that has to do with the candidate’s conduct – both on the campaign trail and once they reach office. When ads are filled with such negativity, you have to wonder about the candidates themselves.
When votes are on the line – precious votes – we can’t expect negative ads to go away. As people interested in the future of this county and state, it’s our job to receive these ads with a touch of skepticism.
Is all the information accurate? It could be. Are some of the facts spun in such a way it makes a person’s actions appear different than what they really were? It’s very likely.
When it comes to negative campaigning, it appears nothing is off limits and getting elected – not ethics – is the only thing that matters.