Conquering the Fear and Smear Campaign
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The Bush supporters will try to use “Smear and Fear” to win this election. Why? This is because their candidate is not delivering on any of the major issues. Most Americans believe the main issues are the economy, jobs, health care costs and security. Kerry is stronger on all these issues than Bush.
This begs the question: Why does anyone support Bush? At first glance this is a little difficult to comprehend. Bush’s economic programs have failed to create jobs and his reckless spending is being harshly criticized by members of both parties. He rushed America to war in Iraq based on faulty intelligence, and then failed to have an adequate post war plan, leaving us with heart breaking personal tragedies and staggering financial losses.
Still there may be a few different reasons for people to support Bush, but I think the major reason is that they support him on social issues. This is especially true for those opposed to gay civil unions and abortion.
Kerry is definitely pro-choice and pro-gay civil unions. These are the same social positions as Republicans Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rudy Giuliani, Christine Whitman and many other moderates. The mainstream of America is divided on these issues, but for most Americans they are not the most important election issues.
So why don’t these Bush supporters just state that abortion is a key issue for them and, therefore, they cannot support Kerry? That would be straight up and honest. The reason is simple; they know that most Americans will be voting on other issues. So, to advance their cause, these supporters resort to Smear tactics.
And talking about Smear tactics, we have already seen three Smears of Kerry in just the last couple of days. First is the rumor by the Drudge Report (an internet site known for wild speculation) that Kerry had an affair with an intern. Sound familiar? Smears are supposed to resonate, and this one is supposed to remind readers of Clinton’s affair. Kerry has denied it: “I just deny it categorically. It's rumor. It's untrue. Period.” After denying the report, Kerry added: "And that's the last time I intend to."
story.news.yahoo.com.
This first Smear and Kerry’s dignified response reminds me of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was smeared by the extremist right with a variety of vicious rumors (and some very similar to this one). Kerry reacted like Jefferson by just moving on!
The second Smear was showing pictures of an antiwar protest with both Jane Fonda and John Kerry in the picture. Jane Fonda was roundly criticized for visiting Hanoi during the Vietnam War and posing for pictures on a North Vietnamese gun turret. Although this picture of the antiwar protest appears legitimate (Kerry was a founder of Vietnam Veterans against the War), the extremists are trying to use the fallacy of "guilt by association". Tell that to George W. Bush and Ken Lay! Kerry has served his Country honorably and this Smear is despicable.
The third Smear was directly from the Bush campaign. It was an internet ad mailed to approximately 6 million supporters. It tries to Smear Kerry by saying he took special interest money and that that money influenced his votes. First, this is false. Second, this is laughable when you consider that Bush is the all time champion of raising special interest money. Just think Halliburton.
But why are they running the Ad on the internet? The Bush campaign says it is to save money. Wrong. The real reason is there is a new campaign law that says the candidate has to stand behind each ad they run on broadcast TV. That is why, in Kerry’s ads, he appears at the end of each commercial and says “I approved this ad”. This internet ad was such a Smear, that if Bush said he approved it, his approval rating would drop another 10 points overnight. Since Bush doesn’t stand behind the Ad, you should ignore it. Or better yet, ridicule it!
There is no question, Bush is scared. The next tactic will be to sell Fear. This is a tried and true method of persuading people. This is why Bush mentions terrorists and 9/11 repeatedly in every speech; to scare people. But should people think Bush would protect them better than Kerry? First, Kerry has proposed changes at the CIA to improve our intelligence. What has Bush done to fix the problem? He stalled, and then was finally forced to appoint a commission that doesn’t report until after the election.
And what about all the great Americans who actually protect us everyday; our policemen, firemen, and other Homeland Security personnel? Will they just quit working? That is an insult to these fine men and women. In fact, Kerry has proposed fully fund our first responders, something Bush has ignored. And finally, the idea that Kerry, a decorated war hero, will ignore security in any way is absurd. This assertion is beneath contempt.
Three Bush Smears; all three conquered! Or, as the next President of the United States John Kerry says: “Bring it on!” |
