You know the tone of the presidential campaign has gotten out of hand when Karl Rove says it's too harsh.
Yes, that Karl Rove. The architect of the often-nasty but successful Bush presidential campaigns of 2000 and 2004.
Rove, on "Fox News Sunday," blamed both Barack Obama and John McCain for the increasingly negative campaigns they are running. He said they both risk their credibility with voters by doing so.
Rove is right, even though his statement comes from a particular bias.
Both McCain and Obama prevailed in their party primaries because they promised change from the business as usual in Washington. What both are delivering in this campaign is anything but different from the routine attack-and-distort politics.
The result is an increasingly angry and divided electorate and a charged atmosphere that discourages intelligent debate on the very critical issues facing our nation. Whomever wins in November will have a monumental task in trying to foster an environment of compromise and cooperation.
They both will be to blame.
McCain supporters will disagree, but the Republican has been on the offensive in the attack campaign. He denies questioning Obama's patriotism, but has done exactly that by suggesting the Democrat would rather win an election than win a war. He's grossly distorted Obama's tax plan, and even made the remarkable (and false) claim in an ad that his rival supported teaching comprehensive sex education to kindergartners. The expressed indignation over questioning of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's credentials has been shameful. This on the heels of a Republican National Convention that openly mocked the Democrat's credentials and accomplishments.
But Obama's campaign, while mostly on the defensive against McCain's attacks, hasn't played fair, either. The very recent TV ad attacking McCain for not using a computer is a low blow that does nothing to advance political discourse. And Obama also has been busy distorting McCain's energy and corporate tax policies for months.
Unfortunately, the attack tactics seem to work. McCain has risen in the polls since his campaign went on the attack, and the Obama campaign last month raised a record $66 million.
So maybe, instead of simply blaming the candidates and campaigns for practicing negative and divisive politics, maybe we all should first take a look at ourselves. Until we reward something different with our votes and donations, we'll continue to get the same.
Yes, that Karl Rove. The architect of the often-nasty but successful Bush presidential campaigns of 2000 and 2004.
Rove, on "Fox News Sunday," blamed both Barack Obama and John McCain for the increasingly negative campaigns they are running. He said they both risk their credibility with voters by doing so.
Rove is right, even though his statement comes from a particular bias.
Both McCain and Obama prevailed in their party primaries because they promised change from the business as usual in Washington. What both are delivering in this campaign is anything but different from the routine attack-and-distort politics.
The result is an increasingly angry and divided electorate and a charged atmosphere that discourages intelligent debate on the very critical issues facing our nation. Whomever wins in November will have a monumental task in trying to foster an environment of compromise and cooperation.
They both will be to blame.
McCain supporters will disagree, but the Republican has been on the offensive in the attack campaign. He denies questioning Obama's patriotism, but has done exactly that by suggesting the Democrat would rather win an election than win a war. He's grossly distorted Obama's tax plan, and even made the remarkable (and false) claim in an ad that his rival supported teaching comprehensive sex education to kindergartners. The expressed indignation over questioning of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's credentials has been shameful. This on the heels of a Republican National Convention that openly mocked the Democrat's credentials and accomplishments.
But Obama's campaign, while mostly on the defensive against McCain's attacks, hasn't played fair, either. The very recent TV ad attacking McCain for not using a computer is a low blow that does nothing to advance political discourse. And Obama also has been busy distorting McCain's energy and corporate tax policies for months.
Unfortunately, the attack tactics seem to work. McCain has risen in the polls since his campaign went on the attack, and the Obama campaign last month raised a record $66 million.
So maybe, instead of simply blaming the candidates and campaigns for practicing negative and divisive politics, maybe we all should first take a look at ourselves. Until we reward something different with our votes and donations, we'll continue to get the same.
