Nothing reflects our national cultural, societal, political and intellectual rot more than election campaign candidates’ attack ads.
Nothing. It is tragic—and beyond depressing—that we have come to accept them, or even tolerate them.
Pardon my bluntness. But here is the theme and premise of all of them.
“I demand that you hate that motherf^%*%r as much as I do. And if you don’t, everybody’s gonna hate you, too.”
Not one of these “ads” promotes the candidates that produced and purchased them. Not one word about the candidates’ qualifications or stances on key issues. No effort whatsoever to unite, and even an open disdain for unity. Pure, blind, mindless tribalism.
“I demand that you hate that motherf&^%$r as much as I do.”
Truth and facts do not in any way constrain these “ads.” They lie, openly, shamelessly and even proudly.
We have de-stigmatized lying. We have endorsed, and often even demanded, lying. There is no longer any price to be paid for lying, and in fact lying is routinely rewarded.
And these ads are fear-based. Because for all of our bluster, we are a fear-based society. We are panophobic. We are afraid of everything.
With the possible exception of “The Bachelor,” nothing reflects our national cultural, societal, political and intellectual vacuous and dishonest rot more than election campaign candidates’ attack ads.
We now have exactly what we deserve.
Wednesday, November 9 just can’t come soon enough.
OMT. Rest in peace, American hero Jim McDivitt.
