Political Bashing

Ryan Wulpi W233-02 T. Kaough Political Bashing by Presidential Candidates The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, every four years, indicates an important time as the Presidential Election occurs for our great country. Americans, in turn, have to brace themselves for the onslaught of brutal character and personal attacks in opposition to each man. The months and weeks leading up to the election will be laden with vicious, negatively charged attacks against each candidate. The wondering question remains: how does it get so out of hand? The two sides will go round and round with each other until the point of ridiculousness. Constantly, until Election Day, these belligerent barbs will continue and increase in ferocity. These attacks will generally come from the respective parties, but several will come from the candidates themselves and partisan Political Action Committees from both camps. All of this bickering has to launch from somewhere and somewhere it does. One of the camps decides to attack the other’s credibility. This typically sets off a sequence of events like those described earlier. Round and round the two opponents go, including childlike name-calling, anything to attempt to send the other candidate reeling. Moreover, once this establishes itself inside the American voters head, the other candidate has to respond with an equally critical remark. If not, there develops a danger of losing voters. The insults come with greater and greater frequency and intensity, all leading up to the Election. It begins to develop into a monotonous stream of drivel, from which the American public cannot seem to run away or hide. In the future, perhaps there will be an election where the candidates involved will run strictly on their values and policies and save us from the smear campaigns that we have become so accustomed to now.