Originally Posted By ecdc There are a lot of ads that have come under significant scrutiny for just how far they go - from Democrats and Republicans. But the most blatant lie has to go to the Republican National Committee for their ad against Michael Arcuri, running for the House of Representatives from New York. The ad accuses Arcuri of using taxpayer dollars to call a phone sex chatline from a hotel room while on government business, complete with sexy voice and a woman dancing in silhouette. The truth? A staffer accidentally misdialed by one digit to call the New York State Division of Criminal Justice. The call was $1.25. How pathetic can these people get! Then of course, there's the famous Harold Ford ads that appeal to good old fashioned southern racism by showing a blonde white woman talking about meeting Harold Ford at a Playboy party. Ford is black. Excuse me while I clean the vomit off my keyboard.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 We've got a few more days left - plenty of time for toppers from either side..... in Chicago the anti-Bush ads just starting -- the most laughable from the Cook County commissioner race. Now remember no GOP since before Prohibition - yep - that long with the Daley Dem machine here. Todd Stroger is running to replace his father officially .. and ad says, we don't want that Bush influence in Cook County politics. Whaaaaa ? No GOP candidate with a chance, but they are trying to deflect criticism since his father - who was the current commissioner had a major stroke over 6 months ago. Not been seen in public since -- no photos - no interviews - no nothing. After 3 - 4 months the media and other candidates ( mainly another Dem) finally pressured the family to prove the current commissioner was still alive. So they produced a 'hand signed' document from the current commissioner ( no one saw him sign ) - that says he is OK, but wants to turn over the reigns to his son - which the county board - muscled by Mayor Daley did. Such is politics in Chicago, where dead people vote twice, and no one even has to see you for months - years at a time in order to maintain office. yet they still see fit to get the message out that they don't want Bush politics in Cook County -- <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/111826" target="_blank">http://www.suntimes.com/news/e lections/111826</a>,CST-NWS-stroger26.article
Originally Posted By friendofdd Oh my! Just a few days left before the election and the side I don't support is playing dirtier than the side I do support. Or are they? What has politics come to in this country?
Originally Posted By mele Only a few more days and the airways will be free from stupid political ads. (Well, at least for a little while.)
Originally Posted By Charliedontsurf <<a blonde white woman talking about meeting Harold Ford at a Playboy party>> maybe you can explain what is so "racial" about that.
Originally Posted By gadzuux She is photographed with bare shoulders and no evidence of wearing any kind of blouse, leering into the camera with her hand mimicing holding a phone receiver, while purring "call me, harold" after saying she met him a a playboy party. TN is a southern state, which have a long-standing reputation for racial bigotry against african americans. This plays into fears held by many ignorant white southerners about black men 'compromising' white women - an offense punishable by public lynching until not too long ago. The facts are that ford was one of about 3000 people in a tent sponsored by playboy at the superbowl in jacksonville. So the ad is a low blow that's solely meant to trigger visceral reactions about black men being predatory towards white women - but there's nothing substantial to the incident. Instead it's a blatant attempt to curry favor with ignorant southern crackers. And it should be beneath the dignity of a member of congress, but the republican party shows us that it isn't.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Re: the example in post #1. The phone records were produced - last week - that show that after the accidental call to the phone sex line, which was terminated almost instantly, the staffer immediately called the New York State Division of Criminal Justice (just one digit off from the phone sex line). This info was given to the RNC, who were asked to pull the ad. Yet as of today, AFAIK, they are STILL running this ad accusing Arcuri himself of "calling a phone sex line on taxpayer dollars," which the RNC knows to be a lie. Not, as is usual in political ads, half-truths and spins that can be seen as sort of true, when looked at under a certain filter... but a pure lie that they KNOW is a lie. And they're still running it.
Originally Posted By friendofdd I think I will vote for the candidates whose party best represents truth and purity.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <I think I will vote for the candidates whose party best represents truth and purity.> Was that said in jest? If not, isn't it backwards? Isn't it better to vote for a candidate who best represents truth and purity, regardless of party? Because I'm not sure either party represents those things very well.
Originally Posted By gadzuux Odd thing about our current culture and "salt and pepper" couples ... I work in oakland with an anglo guy who has a black wife. He tells of a popular bar in oakland for mixed race couples. According to him, he and his wife were made uncomfortable in a visit there, because they were the "wrong" configuration, and that black men are leery of white men with black women. But black men with white women is 'okay'. So maybe we haven't come all that far after all.
Originally Posted By friendofdd >>>Was that said in jest? If not, isn't it backwards? Isn't it better to vote for a candidate who best represents truth and purity, regardless of party? Because I'm not sure either party represents those things very well.<<< Sorry, Dabob, I guess I'm not very good at irony. I am just a bit bemused that intelligent LP posters try so hard to pretend that their side is "better" than the other side. Very few WE political discussions center around issues and, during this campaign season, the topics seem to be about which party is less ethical. You are right about candidates rather than parties being ethical or truthful. I would love to see the day when Dems stop saying the Repubs are hypocritical znc only pretend to be ethical and the Repubs stop saying the Dems are unethical and proud of it. I guess it is more difficult to paint with a broad brush discussing taxes, gov't size, states rights, defense, terrorism, etc. Easier to say "Bush lied" and "Murtha wants to cut and run".
Originally Posted By friendofdd Please ignore post 15, I was distracted for a moment and confused myself. Not uncommon for me.
Originally Posted By mele If you find a party that really does stand for truth and purity (and lives by it) will you please let me know? I'd like to vote for that party too.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <She is photographed with bare shoulders and no evidence of wearing any kind of blouse, leering into the camera with her hand mimicing holding a phone receiver, while purring "call me, harold" after saying she met him a a playboy party.< Oh, kinda lke the Terrell Owens commercial with the blonde from Desparate housewives -- that was supposed to be just good fun is what we were told, so how could it be bad ?
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <If you find a party that really does stand for truth and purity (and lives by it) will you please let me know? I'd like to vote for that party too.< Ah, another write in vote for Mickey Mouse...
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh <This plays into fears held by many ignorant white southerners about black men 'compromising' white women - an offense punishable by public lynching until not too long ago.> This is why Democrats don't get as many votes in the south as they used to, and won't anytime soon. This is really humorous. According to some liberals, southern men are ignorant, but they'd vote for Ford, except that this ad is appealing to their ignorance, in a subtle way. Right.
