We are at the height of the election season. Nearly everywhere I go I see character assassinations rather than an honest discussion of policy differences. TV is full of ads telling lies on one opponent or the other. Perhaps “lies” is too strong of a word–gross distortions of the other persons position might be better.
Looking around the blogs, I see more of the same. Some of the blogs are known for this type of behavior. One local blogger likes to distract with bright shiny objects that don’t matter a lick. If the perceived opponents can be vilified, he is having at it, regardless of the truth or relevance. Why would voters care how someone wore a hat, or what body type they were ? Those issues fall into the irrelevance category.
It is important to remember, in the words of Thomas Jefferson:
“Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle”
Come on locals, let’s clean it up. Candidates, if you are profiting from local folks trashing your opponent. Tell them to stop.
It’s really just that simple and you know who you are.
Local blogger Al Alborn speaks strongly about this very issue. He is singing the song I like to hear. He is holding the candidates who reap the benefits of blogger character assassinations responsible for telling them to stop.
http://albornbiz.blogspot.com/2014/10/is-this-what-you-want-to-see-for-next.html
I happen to agree strongly with Al on this issue. It is important that we stick to issues and matters of policy rather than petty distractors.
Make sure you check out his opinion.
I am chuckling. One other local blogger went after a city councilman who isn’t even running for re-election during this cycle. His words are sure to add 100 points of popularity to the person he bashed. What the blogger doesn’t tell us is that he was almost banished from the Republican Party himself a few years back. Tell us about that, local blogger.
Thank you for the “shout out” Moon.
Moon, I completely agree. It’s time for the adults in the room to stand up and be counted.
No offense (don’t you love it when someone starts a sentence that way?) to any of the bloggers as I probably read 90% of the PWC stuff, but I also wonder if this isn’t just a tempest in a teacup. How many unique visits from within PWC do each of the blogs get? Is it a significant portion of the voting population? I ask, because I don’t know and am only speculating that it’s a small subset of the population (like those of us who read and post on these blogs) who are actually exposed to the back-and-forth.
But facts are boring, and the embellished story is usually more interesting. And the more a story can be exaggerated by leaving out a few facts or more importantly exaggerating a little here and there – all the better.
Scott Jacobs has taken a stand on the character assasinations.
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Post by Scott Jacobs For Brentsville District Supervisor.
Ok, so that didn’t work. Sorry.
Try this: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=873990879302155&id=735919293109315
Thanks for the link, confused. Hats off to Scott Jacobs for saying what needed to be said.
I especially call on Jeanine to denounce some of the really nasty stuff being said, esoecially on blogs. While she herself isn’t participating, she is who is reaping the benefits of the venom being spewn.
She is better than that but only she can really put a stop to it.
Amen. For some candidates it will be interesting to hear what they are actually for instead of just what they’re against. That might weed a few out. Locally, I’m tempted to simply vote for the ones being sharply criticized – the source of the criticism sends a message.
Oh this is a hoot….check out the reaction from one of the bloggers! The best part is “The [blogger] attests on his honor” HONOR???? Like anyone would consider him/her honorable. Oh this is rich. The people he endorses should be a little nervous. Ya can’t make this stuff up.
I can’t stop laughing.
I had to stifle a few guffaws myself.
We need to kick the incumbents out more often.
I’m in the 7th district, Cantor’s old stomping grounds.
Brat and Trammell have been…….gentlemanly and quiet. Some TV ads. NO robocalls, at least I haven’t gotten any.
Brat is who beat out Cantor?
@Moon-howler
Yep.
The reason (or at least one of the reasons) is that the people who run campaigns think we are all as stupid as they are. Too many twenty-somethings with little life experience work on these campaigns and fancy themselves to be budding Lee Atwaters. They’ve been schooled on the idea that negative campaigning is effective (and, alas, it often is). The only way out of this is for voters not to fall for this crap and to defeat some candidates whose campaigns are characterized by over-the-top negative campaigning. I make it a policy of never voting for any candidate whose direct mail in my mailbox is all about how slimy the opponent is. This limits my options a good bit in local elections, where the scum-campaigning is most hideous. But, if every voter would take the position that they won’t tolerate this stuff from any segment of the political world, eventually we will have campaigns that are more issue-oriented.
Open comment from The Sheriff of Nottingham in pwc BlogSpot:
I seem to smell a bit of divide and conquer in the air. Let’s set the record straight I have never said anything on a blog about The Derecho. I know the Derecho and if I have something to say to him I will say it to his face or email him and he will do the same to me.
A previous comment did not go through so I will post this response on my own blog, as a matter of record so in case there is another mechanical failure.
If it weren’t so damaging, it would be funny, the stupidity of what people will go after someone for as a disqualifier for elected office. THAT is why good people often don’t run, because the risk you put you and your family at simply isn’t worth it. In this day and age, it is far to easy to attack someone under complete cover of anonymity. I don’t mean using a moniker and having a fake email address, I mean real anonymity, where your actual name is completely unknown. In this country you use to get to face your accuser. Not so much now with blogs. pretty depressing.
That is why anonymity is so damaging and why I am so critical of bashing people in such a sneaky way. It has been said that I am the same way because of my nickname. As you well know, I have had that nickname for over 20 years and many people outside the blogosphere call me Moon also. I added howler to the nickname because I thought it was fitting. Lots of howling at the moon here.
I figure I am not anonymous when state delegates show up at my door looking for me and local politicians have their aids call my house out of the blue. I think I am pretty easy to track down. I doubt if any regulars here have any doubts who I am or what my given name is. Most of the folks here have my cell phone number also. They can email me and ask if they don’t. The only thing I ask is to leave me a message to check my email. I am sometimes lazy about it.
Elena, you have always used your legal name so….you are always front man if someone really wants a real person from this blog. I will also add, at this point, that there have been people out there who have not always wished you well. I will leave it at that.
Moon certainly didn’t protect me from someone siccing the county on me for having one bag of mulch in my driveway either. Bastards. I think I will also add that I am not in an HOA so I don’t have to live under that NAZI rule.
Cantor is pretty happy I’d say, making money hand over fist. Yep, forget good governance, it’s all about the greed.
We all know who you are Moon, and where to find you.
That’s sorta what I thought, Al. I am sort of like a bad penny.
So, what the heck is going on in blogland? One anonymous writer who relies on second hand information, initiates and perpetuates innuendo, cruelly attacks public employees on their dress and physique, favors and appears to manipulate one local official – questions the morals and integrity of others? And then becomes angry when he’s called on it? Or when someone dares question or disagree? It has to be a completion of people, no one person could function with that much ego.
This upcoming election will not be controlled by mean spirited bloggers. Well, unless you count the fact that several I have spoken to know now who NOT to vote for.
Absolutely, Allie anon. It appears that there are definitely two sets of rules. One for us earthlings ad another set for those who spew venom.
Cerbrus strikes again.