Comedy moment of the week, the reaction to the Zell Miller stemwinder:
Democrats said they were certain the senator had crossed the line and would hurt Bush, in much the same way that commentator Pat Buchanan's fiery 1992 convention speech frightened independent voters. Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards at a campaign rally called the speech "venom." Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) warned in an interview that " 'angry' doesn't sell well in my neck of the woods."
Certainly we haven't heard any venom or anger from the Kerry camp.
More than just hollow criticism, the idea that we shouldn't have negative campaigning is undesirable. Politics and government are inherently negative forces - the foundation of government is brute force and politics is the art of managing government. Together they are destructive forces.
Any meaningful debate of politics should naturally be very negative. Bushites should be saying, "Kerry refuses to privatize social security, and makes it more likely that millions of Americans will live in poverty."
Kerry supporters, "Bush has lead the country into a bloody war that has unnecessarily cost thousands of lives."
You can make the same sort of statements on numerous issues. Political decisions are often weighty, and bad politics can mean disastrous results for many people.
If you don't think your politics are clearly superior to your opponents than there's not much reason for you to be in the political arena. Defining your opposition's problems in large part defines your own politics.
And no, I don't think there's much difference between the two major parties.
Posted by Walter at September 3, 2004 02:31 PM