In "anything goes" campaigns, some things don't

I don't want to get carried away here, but two amazing things happened this week.

Congress actually DID something! Second, and perhaps even more unbelievable, political consultants came up with a series of ads so nasty that politicians on both sides DENOUNCED them as too dirty, even for today's campaigns.

The news from the Capitol was that on a bi-partisan vote, the House extended the life of the Export Import Bank, the institution that arranges financing for countries that want to buy U.S. products. A no-brainer in times gone by, but a bi-partisan vote on anything is so unusual these days, the Washington Post put it on the front page.

The other stunner: The New York Times reported Thursday that a billionaire named Joe Ricketts, the founder of TD Ameritrade, had commissioned a series of racially-charged campaign ads tying Barack Obama to the incendiary black power minister Jeremiah Wright in a way, the strategists wrote, "that John McCain would never let us do" in 2008.

The news caused a huge bi-partisan uproar, and in a matter of hours, the potential bankroller withdrew his support, saying it wasn't his style; and Mitt Romney, who is usually very cautious about commenting on any unanticipated event, strongly repudiated the whole idea and said he wanted no part of it.

Well, good for them!

Too soon to know if this signals a trend toward cleaner campaigns - it probably doesn't. But in this era of "anything goes," it's good to know at least a few things still don't.

[magnumdr]

It seems like our two parties in Government are at war with each others today. What ever happened to the two parties working for one single goal, to make America a better place for everyone of us to live in?. Our Government is supposed to represent all of the people here and nobody else! They all are elected by the people and represent the people and should have the common goal of working for the people! What ever happened to that?.

[tb91006]

Because the liberals dont ever want to compromise to their ideology that does not represent the majority of Americans.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Because the Far Right dont ever want to compromise to their ideology that does not represent the majority of Americans.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Whatever.

[nygurl1]

They got greedy, old and stupid!

[NinthSt78]

John McCain is a very religious person who led us not into temptation, but delivered us from evil. As for the billionaire, there's enough sin on the hip hop channel to fill an ocean, and he must be as outraged by such things as others are.

[jeannettelj]

What planet have you been living on? John McCain is an old fool who is way past his "sell by" date.

[trutwin]

My Church, 'The Church of Christ, Scientist' does not tell it's members who to vote for, thank God. We are not pawns to be moved around a chess board by either political parties nor church hierarchies.

We do have a newspaper, The Christian Science Monitor, founded in 1910 by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of our church, but it's news reports are unbiased - reporting only the facts.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Good to see a fellow Church member.

[trutwin]

Same here, KPeters.

[rich2777]

If the presidential candidates (Republicans, Democrats, whoever) get so down and dirty and disrespectful with each other in public and with TV campaign commercials, I don't want to even think about what they're like, or what they're doing in private. How in the heck can I, or anyone, ever trust any of them? This is more than scary. Some pass off this disrespect as business as usual. Nixing some future TV campaign commercials doesn't impress me after what I've seen so far. The disrespect I've seen is creating a trust issue with me and other voters.

[RN4Truth]

Campaign ads in the past often were very negative. Voters were influenced more by negative than positive ads. (People like gossip especially salacious gossip. Unfortunate but true) However, with the Supreme Courts ruling ( Citizens United ) that Corporations are people we've seen the rise of the Super Pac and big money *mainly billionaires like the Koch Brothers (Karl Rove's American Crossroads)s, an Mr. Eicketts who will do or say anything funding these Super Pacs. And, politics has ound their a new low. BTW, altho there are both Re[ublican and Democrat Pacs, the majority are Republican - that's were the big money guys live!

[KPeters_from_UK]

by involved_indi May 20, 2012 12:58 PM EDT
to retiredgustav

Funny, the talk at my church for months is how we disgraced ourselves as a nation
----------------------------------------

Enough said. I had always assumed that there was no room for Church in politics.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Yo Joe!!!Hopefully the soldiers in both wars are fighting not only against the religious nutcases in Afghanistan and Iraq but also are defending our right against the religious Right back at home that threaten our Liberties against forced religious doctrine and religious morality. And YOU BETCHA THERE IS NO ROOM FOR CHURCH in politics...NONE!!!!!!!!!!!!! As an American I demand that my government is free from your religious mindset. James Madison wrote against the tyranny of the majority and defending the minority.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Church has no place in politics! There is no room for church in politics.

As for the mother at her son's funeral...I am old enough to have a friend whose British son also died in the same circumstances so don't try to confuse the issue with emotions.

[KPeters_from_UK]

I wrote a additional comment shortly afterwards but it has disaapeared so I will write it again.

Joe,
I am old enough to have one of my friends who had to bury her British son who died in war. Don't ever try to cloud the issue with hysterical emotional statements.

[Hollif50]

The American people can't do to much about "Citizens United" without a Constitutional Amendment; but they can demand "Full disclosure' of all political contributions (by name!)by whatever political entity or PAC that receives these monies.In addition there should be no income tax deduction for political contributions, or for that matter; political organizations... Put the reporting thresh-hold at,say, $2,500....In this day and age of the internet, daily reporting would be very easy to do. Everything done in the campaign finance and campaign ad "universe" should be done in the bright spotlight of total disclosure...That means the names and corporations involved in financing an ad should be posted prominently at the end of the ad; along with the organization who is fielding the ad. Yes; for all the world to see!!! The opposition to either party has the right to know exactly who's "shooting" at them..

[vsmit]

And the labor unions, by name.

[RealiteBites]

I don't think it's a question of ethical standards per se, so much as a political choice.

Because Romney doesn't need to play dirty to win, so to go the dirty route has no benefit.

I'm sure he wouldn't hesitate if it meant the difference between him getting to be President, or not.

Second off, Bob - please stop it with the 'did something' whining. It's sad to see somebody so distracted by political spin that they don't even talk substance any more.

Washington isn't doing anything that actually moves the ball forward, and it's RESULTS that matter, not just 'doing something' ...

[retiredgustav]

You are right about Mittens doesn't have to play dirty because it won't make a bit of differences he is still going to loose. This morning's church talk here in Texas is that the conservatives don't have anyone to vote for. A number of my fellow church goers are either going to leave it blank or not vote at all.

[janareader]

What i want to know is why are churches into politics

[retiredgustav]

Indi... I am down here in the southland. Mittens will win but he is going to have to spend a lot of money to do so. Right now Texas is having their primary, state wide so far less that 2% of the eligible voters have come out to vote in the early (no excuse) election . By election day it may be up to 8%. There is just no enthusiasm in the republican camp.

[Chuck77474]

To involved_indi: 20,000 members is, indeed, a large church but it is 20,000 people living in their own micro-society of self-indulgent believers. Please don't delude yourself into thinking it in any way represents the country or world at large.

[Hollif50]

retiredgustav: And yet religious organizations who become involved in politics and preach politics during the sermon or on church property are risking losing their tax exempt status. If under a Republican Administration, the government gets out of the business of caring for and succoring the poor; the churches will be asked to step up. Do you evangelicals have a plan for that? I thought not...