Negative campaign commercials

We are in a Presidential election year.  The negative ads are coming, or have come in some states.  Here in Wisconsin, there is also an effort to recall our governor.  The negative ads are abundant. 

I have made the statement that I would vote for the candidate that did not run negative ads if the candidates were close in other ways.  That never seems to happen.  We also seldom see ad campaigns that are not negative.

I loved the campaign ads for US Senator Charles Grassley when I lived in Iowa.  Most of the ads were positive for Grassley and that was about it.  Most did not mention whom he was running against.   The ads often did not even mention that he was a Republican.  How refreshing. 

I probably would not even mind negative ads if they were truthful and based on facts.  Often the ads are just plain lies.  FactCheck gave four Pinocchios to a thirty second ad run by one of Romney’s “Super Pacs” against Gingrich.   

A Pinocchio is what FactCheck calls something that is not true.  I guess that is the politically correct way to say something is a lie.  I am not too politically correct.  A lie is a lie.   

I would think it would be hard to make four points in a thirty second ad.  Getting in four lies takes real talent. 

I am not trying to pick on Romney.  Most politicians are about as bad including Gingrich.  All the politicians start out saying they are not going to run a negative campaign. As soon as their numbers are bad in the polls, they resort to the negative and in most cases untrue ads. 

Politicians often say it is not their fault and they have no control over these negative ads, because the ads are run by “Super Pacs” which the politician has no control.  The “Super Pacs” are just a way of getting around the campaign reform laws.  Legally, the candidate cannot be in control of the “Super Pac”.  Look at who is in charge of the “Super Pac”.  It is usually someone formally closely involved with the candidate.  If you believe the candidate has no control over the “Super Pac”, I have a bridge to sell you.

If negative ads and ads based on lies are so offensive, why do candidates run them?  The answer is simple.  They work.

Some people are strong backers of one candidate or

Political party and don’t care.  These people often do not want to be bothered with the facts.   “I have my mind made up.”  “Don’t confuse me with facts.”  This attitude is not that uncommon.

Other people just believe the ads, because they don’t have the time, energy or commitment to get the facts and the truth. 

How do we change this attitude?  How do we stop the negative and untruthful ads?  We need to encourage every voter to get the facts.  If we can show politicians that negative ads don’t work at the polls, maybe we can stop the negative ads and get to the real issues.