Responding to Attacks

Have you noticed the recent uptick in personal attacks during the political campaigns around the country? Most people do not claim to like negative attacks like this, so why do campaigns run them? It's simple. Despite negative reactions to this type of campaigning, it is effective. If left unchallenged, people may believe the attacks, even if they are not true. If the candidate who has been attacked responds, the response to the attack gets them off their main message and puts them on the defensive.

So what should campaigns do when they are attacked? Some campaigns run counter-ads to either refute the attacks of their opponent or counter-attack the other candidate. This can work sometimes because the refutation may be necessary. However, this often spins out of control and is counter-productive. It is fine to briefly address the facts related to the attacks if they are not true. However, the most important thing to do is to remind voters why your opponent is resorting to personal attacks. This kind of gutter politics is necessary when you can't win on the issues.

I am writing this because I want to encourage Republican candidates this Fall to stay on message. The Democrats want you to waste time fighting their attacks rather than sharing your vision for the future of the economy, your state and our country. It is this message that has led you ahead in many polls. The voters want to know how you are going to get us back on track and get government out of our lives. They don't care that much if you unknowingly hired an illegal nanny or other things about your past that have little or nothing to do with how you will govern. These attacks will pass over much quicker if you move on with your message to the people. Trying to address it too much will just keep the issue alive. We are in a fight over issues much bigger than small issues in people's past.

The Many Faces of Obama

I would like to share and observation from Thomas Sowell about President Obama.  It is nothing new and something I have said for a long time.  I just like the Sowell explains it:

"As Obama's own books point out, he has for years cultivated a talent for saying things that people will find congenial.

You want bipartisanship and an end to bickering in Washington? He will say that he wants bipartisanship and an end to bickering in Washington. Then he will shut Republicans out of the decision-making process and respond to their suggestions by reminding them that he won the election. A famous writer-- Ring Lardner, I believe-- once wrote: "'Shut up,' he explained."

You want a government that is open instead of secretive? He will say that. He will promise to post proposed legislation on the Internet long enough for everyone to read it and know what is in it before there is a vote. In practice, however, he has rushed massive bills through Congress too fast for anybody-- even the members of Congress-- to know what was in those bills."

This is what people need to keep in mind when they when they hear Obama speak.  He's going to say exactly what you want to hear.  The question is, will he actually do it.  I believe this man is the most gifted liar I have ever seen.  Bill Clinton can't hold a candle to him.  If you were his neighbor, he could run over your dog and tell you with complete sincerity that he did it for your own good.

As a candidate, he told us all the wonderful things he was going to do.  No one really thought he could do all of it, but I don't think most realized that he never intended to either.  Now he tells about all of the good he is doing while doing the exact opposite.  Glenn Beck this week compared to it to trying to convince us that 2+2=5.  We need to remember not to be lulled by his lies and stay vigilant on throwing his party out of power this fall.

To read all of Thomas Sowell's article click here.