Anybody who has turned on the television in the last few weeks has seen the very sad state of American affairs. As election season comes to an end this Tuesday, we will finally be rid of nasty advertisements candidates air attacking their opponents, as well as ads attacking candidates who go against the mission of various 527 organizations.
527 organizations are tax-exempt groups that are not Political Action Committees because they are beyond the realm of the Federal Election Committee. Therefore, they can accept donations of any amount from any willing donor. These organizations advocate for the defeat or success of candidates without any legal oversight or control.
In many ways, this election season has been the nastiest and most hard-fought of recent memory, and 527s are not the only culprits.
One of the reasons why the ads are so bad this year is because there is a lot at stake. Republicans face the potential of losing control of both the House and Senate, while the Democrats aim to regain one or both. Both sides are sinking to new lows to attack their foes, and one way is through attack ads.
Possibly the most controversial ad of the year is one paid for by the Republican National Committee against Democrat Harold Ford in the Tennessee Senate race. In the ad Republicans subtly go after the fact that Ford attended a party hosted by Playboy. In the ad a younger blonde states, “I met Harold at the Playboy party.” The commercial ends with this woman winking into the camera and saying, “Harold, call me.” The ad has sparked a lot of controversy because it questions Ford’s character and also sparks “a very serious appeal to a racist sentiment” (New York Times, Oct. 26). Ford, if elected, would be the first black Senator from the South since Reconstruction.
The Ford ad is just one of many that have sunk to new lows. Instead of the negative ads, I propose that candidates, PACs and 527s not be allowed to run negative ads. Instead, any candidate running for office should seek to promote him or herself. Instead of attacking the record of an opponent, candidates should focus on what they plan to do if elected. Voters should put pressure on candidates to relate their platform, and more debates between candidates should be scheduled. Now, we are a nation driven by sensational news stories and short bits of information. Americans no longer have the attention span to look in depth into issues, and a 30-second commercial only worsens this while concealing the facts.
Regardless of how nasty this election has become, it is important that we get out and vote. I encourage all readers of this column to help increase the pitiful voter turnout for the college-age demographic.
Take some time to visit candidate’s websites and read their platform. Don’t let attack ads sway your opinion. And in the future, let’s put more pressure on candidates to steer clear of attack ads. And remember to vote on Tuesday.