Attack Ads II: Vietnam and the 2004 Presidential Election

» H2O - About 527's

"Second, in recent elections, the candidate who is sneakier with regard to 527s running attack ads usually wins."

527 groups have sprung up as a response to McCain-Feingold, a bill that is anti-First Amendment. Non-profit issues groups, called 527's because of the IRS tax code that legislates them, are able to function because the two major parties are forbidden to accept soft money. President Bush has in fact moved to stop 527's, but was nullified by the courts.

An interesting twist about the 527's is that they cannot collaborate with the presidential campaign. Not only does it mean the two groups cannot plan strategy, it also means the candidate cannot say to the 527's "stop doing this." John Kerry and others urged President Bush to do this, even though it is against the law.

Almost every campaign has been dirty and ugly. Abraham Lincoln was called a "baboon." Harding was accused of being a philanderer. Another president was accused of being mulatto.

In this case, John Kerry made his service in Vietnam the sole criteria for his fitness in office. Just as Bush can be questioned and criticized for his handling of Iraq, then John Kerry by making his service in Vietnam an issue also invites disagreements and criticism.

John

-- posted by H2O

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» JohnJefferson - Re: About 527's

In response to message posted by H2O:

The constitutionality of 527 groups is perhaps a good topic for a different article. It's important that you pointed that out as it is an example of how bi-partisanan bill act as a symbol more than a remedy to a specific problem. Republicans would be able to tout the fact that a Democrat co-authored the bill. Democrats may point out thaFeingoldld was an inexperienced US Senator into his second term and was manipulated by the wilMcCainin. In the end, all eyes lose focus of the campaign finance reform initiative. The important thing to note in this situation is that movement has been made toward limiting the financial resources of both major parties.

SenaFeingold'slwebsitesite states his position and mentions the constitutionality:
"Soft money-unlimited contributions from corporations, unions, or wealthy individuals- is the biggest loophole, and led to the biggest scandals in the 1996 and 2000 Presidential campaigns. That is why I am pleased that seven years after McCaincCain and I introduced our campaign finance reform bill, Congress passed our legislation and the President signed it into law. On December 10, 2003, the Supreme Court upheld the law against a challenge to its constitutionality." (http://feingold.senate.gov/issues_campai...

John Jefferson

-- posted by JohnJefferson

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» spondulix - Re: About 527's

In response to message posted by H2O:

A few quick points.
The controversy over the 527's, has managed to obscure the fact that according to several sources the Bush campaign ads are 76 % attack ads filled with distortion that is somehow getting a pass. The same sources showed the Kerry campaign as around 26 % use of attack ads. As long as the campaigns use attack ads themselves it seems to hardly matter what position they might take on the 527's.

I am also reminded of Jefferson being attacked as having fathered a black slaves child during his campaign by a Mr. Calander.

"John Kerry made his service in Vietnam the sole criteria for his fitness in office." This just simply is inaccurate. And while John Kerry making his service record in Vietnam an issue, doesn't justify distroting his record or the outright lies the swiftboats vets employed.
I should think that charecter assignation is never justified.

curtis

-- posted by spondulix

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