Katie Couric's Notebook: Campaign Turns Ugly

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

With less than a month left, this presidential campaign has taken a decidedly ugly turn.

At Republican rallies, some over heated supporters have started to yell things like "terrorist" and "treason" when Barack Obama's name is mentioned. This is depressing and unacceptable.

Freedom of speech is one of our most cherished rights, but words that incite violence should be seriously condemned by all the candidates.

It's no surprise that "civil discourse" is such an oxymoron these days. When I sometimes peruse comments on the Internet, they are loaded with vitriol and profanity. I'm embarrassed for the authors of those comments, and for the readers who stumble upon them.

Words are like weapons – they can damage who we are. This is an important time to remind ourselves that even when passions are high, we can agree to disagree. And we can do so with reason – and respect.

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by hjs98663 October 12, 2008 5:20 AM EDT: With all the crooks in office,now we have a crook running for vp. Well everyone knows that McCain is the bad guy. He is up to no good.; Reply to this comment


by charlenet-2009 October 11, 2008 6:38 PM EDT: I have been voting for Democratic candidates for 40 years. I am disappointed when they lose, and most of the time they have lost.

I never think that the Republican candidate is evil or unpatriotic. I never want to kill or hurt their candidates. I have attended many political rallies, but I have never heard the types of comments I hear coming from the audience at McCain events.

I feel sad. If we cannot respect one another and accept that a different set of ideas from our own may prevail, then Democracy is over. Democracy depends on the willingness of the people to accept the outcome of a free election.; Reply to this comment


by charlenet-2009 October 11, 2008 3:02 PM EDT: I have been voting for Democratic candidates for 40 years. I am disappointed when they lose, and most of the time they have lost.

I never think that the Republican candidate is evil or unpatriotic. I never want to kill or hurt their candidates. I have attended many political rallies, but I have never heard the types of comments I hear coming from the audience at McCain events.

I feel sad. If we cannot respect one another and accept that a different set of ideas from our own may prevail, then Democracy is over. Democracy depends on the willingness of the people to accept the outcome of a free election.; Reply to this comment


by fiesty_mama2 October 11, 2008 10:16 AM EDT: Hey Sunpac. This is my 3rd post. They all have an original thought. Don''t you know how to use a computer? Are you trying to reduce your point posting it 6 times. Why don''t you contact your Messiah and maybe he can help you with some fresh "talking points"; Reply to this comment


by fiesty_mama2 October 11, 2008 9:55 AM EDT: Katie, I am so glad to know your opinion on how unacceptable and depressing it is to hear unkind words towards Senator Obama at McCain/Palin rallies. At least they haven''t sunk to the level of the MSM lefties and the left in general. These are just a few kind words that I have heard from the left in the last 8 years about conservatives. President Bush looks like a Chimpanzee, Rush Limbaugh is like Hitler, George Bush is like Hitler, Henry Hyde should be stoned to death, Govenor Palin is the grandmother, and not the mother of Trig Palin, Governor Palin would be %u201Cganged rape%u201D by black men in New York City if she were to visit the neighborhood or the disgusting things that Keith Olberman has said about conservatives. Katie, before you preach to me and your very limited audience about supporters at a McCain/Palin rally getting angry...the left and that includes you, should try looking in the mirror! Conservatives have much more class than the left can ever %u201Chope%u201D to have.; Reply to this comment


by fiesty_mama2 October 11, 2008 8:35 AM EDT: Katie,
Me being just a backwards gal, I am wondering when you last attended a McCain/Palin rally? Are you relying on MSM reporting? You know how unreliable and biased they can be! By the way Katie, thank you for showing us your great intellect during your vice presidential interviews with Gov. Palin and Sen. Biden. I loved your response to Sen. Biden%u2019s foolish comments about FDR''s televised fireside chats in 1929. Wait! You didn''t respond to his ignorant comment and you let it stand leading the American people to believe that his comments were accurate. Were you not aware of Sen. Biden''s glaring faux pas? Could it be that you are the real "airhead in America" and not Gov. Palin? Why are people angry? Maybe it''s because people like you lie and misrepresent the truth. In your unbiased reporting, have you ever referred to the Democratic protesters that claim that President Bush is a War criminal as %u201Cangry%u201D or do you only reserve those adjectives for Republicans? Oh yeah, I am a great fan of Gov. Palin and she has guts and wisdom that you will never understand. She is the only reason I have ever tuned in to your show. How stupid of me to think you would have been half as fair with her as you were with Sen. Biden. Hey Katie...how are those ratings going? Can CBS sue you for malpractice? You are nothing but an ignorant washed up failure! Oops...I hope that doesn''t qualify me as an "angry" McCain/Palin supporter! How does it feel to be replaced as "America''s Sweetheart"?; Reply to this comment


by sadd62 October 11, 2008 4:08 AM EDT: Katie, I hope you will read this. How can independent voters make a sound decision when the media is so biased toward Obama. The debate was awful because the questions did not probe into new territory. Objectivity is not even part of the debates when a former anchor from NBC is allowed to pick the questions to be asked in a debate.

Also, instead of trying to get quality information from the candidates, the outcome of your interview with Sarah Palin was to make her look bad to the public. She is a smart women who made it to the governor level but you asked questions such as what newspaper do you read? The same unfair treatment that was shown to Hillary is being shown to Palin. Women are not treated fairly and I''m surprised you are feeding that fire.

The money put behind Obama is the reason why he is ahead.

I would respect and watch your newscast if you demonstrated that you weren''t biased one way or the other. That is clearly not the case. Reconsider and deliver unbiased news reporting/journalism so independent voters can decide based on the facts and not the information that biased news organizations and reporters want them to hear.

I hope you will read and consider this.; Reply to this comment


by newslink October 11, 2008 1:49 AM EDT: Katie if this is what we are to look foward to from MCcain. Than we are in Big trouble. He has promoted fear, racism and every evil work. From my stand point this man is Unstable, and can not run this Country and be Fair to All Americans. I am ashamed of this type of campaigning. And disappointed.; Reply to this comment


by tigerrram9 October 11, 2008 1:32 AM EDT: Katie
The panel in Alaska found that Governor Sarah Palin abused her powers. It was noted that Todd Palin has too much power and input as her husband.
Katie, If Sarah does not go to Alaska and testify, she will agree with the findings of the panel. If she does not have nothing to hide she needs to testify. That is the only way to set the record straight.
Katie, should something happen to John McCain we don''t want Todd in the position to run this country.
How about another interview with Sarah to set the record straight. I want to know why Todd had so much power? I want to know who was the governor of Alaska? I want to know why Todd was a member of the Alaskan Separatist Party.
We need to get to bottom of things before the wrong person is put into power in the White House. The American people deserve to know the TRUTH and you can help us bring the truth out.; Reply to this comment


by sunpac October 11, 2008 12:09 AM EDT: This is our third election cycle -- at least -- that has been dominated by ad hominem attacks, propaganda, and dirty tricks. (Actually, too nice a term for some of the awful acts which have become common in our elections).

Suggestion: News media could change this. One specific way -- do a series on propaganda techniques. Show the way people are manipulated without even knowing it.

1. Include some context, e.g., the way propaganda was used by the Nazis and the Communists. ("Back in the day," Florida schools were required to teach a course on "Americanism vs. Communism." A big chunk of that course dealt with propaganda techniques.)

2. Show examples of mind manipulation in U.S. political contests, past & present.

3. Perhaps a contest for kids who can ID propaganda techniques used in 2008 races, with rewards for those sending in examples you can use on the air.

All this negativity is exhausting! Educate kids & adults re. propaganda. The techniques will lose their power. Then, perhaps, we can have a campaign moves toward real solutions to the many problems we face.; Reply to this comment