Attack Ads II: Vietnam and the 2004 Presidential Election: About 527's

» 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