Politics With A Smear Of Cream Cheese
By Wyatt Earp | September 13, 2008
Remember when the POTUS candidates claimed that they were sick of “politics as usual,” and would not resort to attack ads? Yeah, that was a great ten minutes, wasn’t it? Don’t be surpirsed at the nastiness seen in the 2008 race, though: this kind of nonsense has been going on for 200 years.
It is also the subject of my article at Family Security Matters:
Over the past few weeks, the nation has been shocked and outraged at the ridiculous smears and disgusting attacks upon Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin. To her credit, the Alaskan governor has never faltered against the unprovoked, untrue charges thrown her way by the mainstream, Obama-loving media. In fact, she has made great progress in debunking most of these fictitious “scandals.”
Unfortunately, attacks like the ones Governor Palin has to endure come with the territory in contemporary American politics. She is not the first candidate to be assaulted, and she will not be the last. Throughout this country’s history, contrived scandals and sickening smears have been the rule rather than the exception. Here is a look at some of the more laughable examples:
During the presidential election of 1804, Thomas Jefferson faced a challenge from South Carolina’s Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, the former Minister to France. Sensing an uphill battle, Pinckney launched a series of attacks against Jefferson, the incumbent. While history leads one to believe that the early days of America gave rise to polite gentlemen, Pinckney’s slings and arrows proved otherwise.
Just before the ballots were cast, Pinckney unleashed his “October Surprise.” His operatives distributed leaflets stating that Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase was made for 60 million francs and a cancellation of an 18 million franc debt. This was widely known. However, Pinckney also alleged that Napoleon signed into the deal an agreement that would allow French citizens to be rude to Americans through eternity.
Sadly, the voters didn’t buy it, and Jefferson was reelected in a landslide.
You can read the rest HERE.
Topics: FSM | 6 Comments »
September 13th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
This is why conservatives are better equipped in the forum of issues. We are battle hardened by the bias in the system. The press thinks they are doing their candidate a favor. All they have done is pump up his inflated narcissistic ego with false confidence, while simultaneously undermining their credibility. When the debates come, Obama will be ill-equipped, unable to apply his trademark oratory, without a real toolbox of defensive material. This is going to be very entertaining to watch.
September 14th, 2008 at 5:17 am
When Lincoln ran for president, the opposition was vicious. They regularly insulted his appearance, calling him an ape. My favorite bit of political dirty tricks was when Grover Cleveland’s opponent found out about his illegitimate child and ran with the slogan:
Ma Ma where’s my Pa
Gone to the White House Ha Ha Ha.
Instead of lying, (I did not have sex with that woman) Cleveland owned up to it, and was elected. Americans are forgiving, but we sure hate to be lied to.
September 14th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Insol – Let’s hope so. Hopefully, it’ll expose him as the fraud he is. I just wish we were running against solely the Democrats, instead of the Democrats and the MSM.
Ky person – I remember seeing that cartoon. Funny stuff! And you’re right: Cleveland owned up to it, and the public forgave him.
September 14th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Good one Wyatt. Especially likes the one about the French being rude to Americans (forever). LOL.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Doesn’t the Fox support cancel out MSNBC?
September 15th, 2008 at 8:43 am
AJ – Thanks.
Grimjack – Sure. Now we just need more FOXes to cancel out CNN, CNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, Headline News, etc.