Political Ads

This year is a charged political year, but what election year isn’t? There have been accusations flying back and forth, side to side, concerning backgrounds, standards and beliefs. As we all know, this is politics: He who throws the most mud and comes out the cleanest, wins. Over the past several months, starting in some state campaigns, the ads began to change. Not that they stopped demeaning their opponent, but they, the candidate, stated they had approved the message. This is indeed an improvement over past elections. Many times something would be said in an ad and later the candidate would refute ever even hearing about it. In essence every word or picture is what the candidate believes in and wants you to see and hear. There is no way they can claim they had nothing to do with it. Why not make all political ads this way?

Take this idea one step further. Every time an ad airs which does not address the issues but is an attack on the opponent, either veiled or direct, place a black mark against that candidate, not the one being attacked. Then on Election Day, vote for the candidate with the least black marks.

With these two small, minor changes, a cleaner campaign would be run and the public could truly hear what the candidate has planned if and when they gain office. It is time we hold the political system’s feet to the fire. They are the leaders of this country, their conduct should stand along side the position they hold.

We have laws governing truthful practices in everything from loans to advertising in general. Isn’t a political ad an advertisement? Are they not trying to sell something? If we will not accept false advertisements from the local merchant, why then do we not only allow, but condone it from a politician?

We, the people, need to join together in this first step to clean up our political system. The time of lies, half truths and propaganda needs to come to an immediate and screeching halt. Band together America, fight for your rights as a citizen of this great nation.

Why should we elect a person to office who only claims to have the answer? Make them show us what and how they will achieve their plans for the future of this country and us. Without depreciating the each other, they should give us outlines and timetables for the facelift they want to give the government. Not just a sound bite here and there, but some real meat on the issues.


A person in the gutter can not raise themselves up by pulling another down.


Ed Williams

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