On the subject of negative campaigning vs the issues I challenge all of you to take a field trip and see what the organizations behind the candidates are doing.
First visit http://www.democrats.org/ and see how long it takes you to find a negative add. (Hint: At the time of this post you need go no further than the first headline) While you're there scroll up and down the page to see how many accomplishments the democrats claim and what they intend to do for the people on the issues.
Next visit http://www.rnc.org/ and do the same. Look for the first negative add and then try to find accomplisments and agenda. FWIW, the little Kerry game is cute and his past voting record does matter but I'd rather know what the republicans intend to do in the future and then maybe hear a little about Kerry's past.
Next visit http://www.lp.org/ and do the same. Don't spend to much time looking for negative remarks about the other candidates, you'll probably find it easier to locate accomplishments or intended agenda.
Finally, use the contact info at your party's site and tell them you want to know what your candidate stands for and what the intend to accomplish.
Regardless of which side of the fence any of us are on, we're going to
hear a lot of criticism thrown back and forth. That's really only pointing
up the differences, as perceived by one candidate of the other. Many
of us will tag it negative campaigning.
In the current/upcoming contest between President Bush and Senator
Kerry, we'll probably hear a lot more "negatives" about Kerry because
we don't know him, and wonder how he would perform...as President,
...and someone who is asking us to take him at his word. On the other
hand, we know about Bush. We've been watching him for 3 years,
...as President.... No dilemma here.
Track record is all important. Stripes on a zebra or spots on a leopard
don't change.
Campaigns are like a camera that bring the image of a candidate into
sharper and sharper focus as the days wear on. But it's voters who are
the better off for that knowledge and that focus. (Copied from somewhere,
and appropriate here)
Candidates are like tea bags.......you have to put them in hot water before
you know how strong they might be. That's what campaigns are all about.
Hang in there and learn, then Vote !, and Vote Smart !

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