Before we forget, let's make it clear that the negativity of this campaign was very one sided. By negativity, I mean scurrilous personal attacks and the use of ideological code words rather than criticism of policy or the pointing out of actual personal weaknesses.
Who said 'friend of terrorists'? Who used the codeword 'socialism'? Who said, "who is the real Barack Obama?", insinuating that there was a hidden, mysterious secret lurking out there? What side refused to repudiate the emails flying around the internet that Obama was a secret Muslim? Who put ads up in the last days of the campaign about Obama's former pastor?
On the other hand, Obama's half-hour political commercial a week before the election didn't even mention McCain, let alone portray him negatively. Every time I heard Obama or Biden speak about McCain's military past, it was with respect and honor. They refused to engage in belittling Sarah Palin, despite her lack of experience. Any criticism of McCain that I heard dealt with the truth that McCain's foreign and domestic policies were in alignment with those of the past eight years. There was no delving into the faiths of McCain and Palin, both of which could have provided a lot of political ammunition for the Democrats.
The insinuation out there that both sides were equally 'negative' is simply false.
But, without a doubt the most disgusting negative campaign was run by Senator Dole, especially the final 'godless Americans' ad against her opponent. It was so gratifying to see that even conservative North Carolina rejected this garbage.
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