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Campaign 2006: Americans the losers

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Contributed by: Sheila Jones on 11/13/2006

Campaign 2006: Americans the losers
Caitlyn Moore
Englewood High School, senior

It has only been a few days since the election, and the winners have been named. What I will take away from this election, however, are, the crude and vicious attacking campaign commercials, especially the advertisements between Marilyn Musgrave and Angie Paccione.

It is as if both were ready to have a smack down. The attacks against each other were without mercy. In the past years, election wins have become more crucial, and in turn, the division between the Democrats and Republicans is more evident. The campaign commercials are more manipulating and are depended on by the candidates to have wins.

Dr. George Mann of West Texas A & M University defines card stacking as a "technique [that] attempts to mislead people by providing only untrue or half true facts..."

Card stacking can be seen in many campaigning advertisements. Both Musgrave and Paccione used this technique to convey their messages. Candidates, in general, are using untrue distortions of the truths to make themselves look better and more in tune with what voters want.

Republicans and Democrats are both using this technique in different ways. Democrats seem to use card stacking by advertising the policy that the opposing candidate voted for or declined to vote on, in the past about crucial issues. On the other hand, Republicans appeared to use truths and twist them to their advantage. They attacked the opposing candidate's personal life, which makes the candidate look to be not morally sound.

This difference in one technique can easily be seen in the commercials of Musgrave and Paccione. Musgrave's commercials attacked Paccione on her being loose with her money. "Paccione did not pay her taxes, so she shouldn't be trusted," goes the attack ad. Musgrave attacked Paccione about her personal life.

Paccione's commercials attack Musgrave about her policies and how she thinks abortion is the most important issue for Americans today instead of the war in Iraq. Both candidates are good examples of how both parties assault each other.

Not all of the candidates attacked each other in same way as Paccione and Musgrave did, but the campaign commercials, in general, reflect poorly on our society. America has changed, but not for the better, because candidates will stop at nothing to get a vote, not matter how high an office they are running for.

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Submitted By: Doug Wray

posted on 12/2/2006 @ 2:09:29 AM

(Not Rated)

Musgrave LIED in her ads, anyone that bought into them is proof that Colorado's education system needs help desperately. Only the GOP's collossal spending in the 4th District (10 - 1!!) pulled this one out of the fire. The Roman's called that a Pyrrhic victory.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Sheila Jones

Littleton , CO

Sheila Jones has posted 3 stories and 0 comments since joining on 10/23/2006. Sheila Jones 's average story rating is 0.

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