# Negative Campaign Ads **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 10, 2006, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975 "2006-10-10T21:12:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/21 "2006-10-12T21:35:14Z")
Another Canadian who gets Boston stations… I KNEW you were going to be from Massechusettes as soon as I saw the topic line. Those ads crack me the hell up. Aside from the phrasing making it sound like ‘do we really want one as governor?’ refers to the convicted cop killer…there’s the ‘Sure lawyers have the right to defend convicted cop killers’… Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it more 'convicted cop killers have the right to be defended, and defense attorneys have the responsibility to do so? Yeah your citizens having rights sucks so bad, dude. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/22 "2006-10-12T21:48:58Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] Huh, a cadidate who is taking the high ground? Sounds like someone who gets my vote. [/QUOTE] The Republican candidate for Congress in Iowa’s 94th district, renounced his affiliation with the Republican party and became an Independent in protest over a negative ad that was created by the Iowa Republican party against his Democratic opponent, and issued an apology to both the opponenent and his wife. > [@](#): > > [http://www.ottumwacourier.com/local/local\_story\_258230115.html](http://www.ottumwacourier.com/local/local_story_258230115.html) > > Kevin Wiskus, a candidate for Iowa House District 94, has switched his party affiliation from Republican to Independent following what he said was a “shocking and tasteless” mass-mailed brochure attacking his opponent. > > \ > > “I do not support any kind of attack campaign tactics,” Wiskus said. “Voters should be able to choose between qualified candidates based on individual merits. At no time should voters have to make a choice based on which candidate can throw the most mud. > > “Though I had no prior knowledge of this vicious attack on you, I ask that you please accept my most sincere and humble apology to you and Julie,” he wrote in an ad to appear in the Centerville Daily Iowegian. Interestingly, the ad in this case is remarkably similar to the one outlined in the OP. . . > [@](#): > > The mailing accuses Swaim helping child molesters become eligible for early release. It highlights a former case Swaim defended as a public defender. > > “He plead guilty and was sentenced to 200 days in jail. He served four. How did he get such a sweet deal? His public defender, Kurt Swaim, was paid $936.30 to get him back on the street,” the brochure states. > > “Even worse, Kurt Swaim voted to make criminals like [Donald] Burdett eligible for early release.” > > Swaim said Friday, “I accept and appreciate Kevin’s apology and I hope and trust we can move forward for a positive campaign.” > > He noted that a public defender has only a few acceptable reasons for not taking a case, and none applied to the one featured in the mailing. As an attorney, Swaim added, it would be unethical not to represent a client as capably as possible. Kudos to Kevin Wiskus, I say! ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2006, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/23 "2006-10-12T23:26:57Z")
[QUOTE=Carl Corey] **MsRobyn** , Really? I hadn’t heard that about the Santorum ads. That’s hilarious. Man, I hope he’s defeated. [/QUOTE] [Yup. 'Tis true.](http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/15511495.htm) I am so amused right now. The late-September Quinnipiac poll has Casey ahead 51-39, I think. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/24 "2006-10-13T00:24:51Z")
[QUOTE=kingpengvin] I wonder if these types of ads actually have any effect. I mean there is obviously a preceived one otherwise they wouldn’t keep doing them, but what do actual studies say [/QUOTE] In all honesty I did one of these studies back in grad school. What I found was largely… > [@auntie pam](#): > > I’m so disgusted, I’m tempted not to vote for any of them. The main effect of hard negative ads is NOT to bring out support for one’s own candidate but rather to drive marginal voters and undecideds out of the voting cohort. That is, as the preponderance of ads go negative fewer and fewer moderate and swayable voters will actually go and vote. Therefore the candidate with the more rabid, even though smaller, dedicated base will find an electoral advantage by running negative ads. It’s marketing…plain and simple. If you’re opponent is picking up the middle and undecideds you make efforts to keep those people at home on election day and bang! you’ve just increased your chance of winning. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/25 "2006-10-13T01:00:03Z")
Amateurs! Watch a pro at work- check out [Vernon Robinson](http://vernonrobinson.com/media/twilight.mov) (SFW but offensive), Republican, 13th district, North Carolina. More [here.](http://vernonrobinson.com/index.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/26 "2006-10-13T01:08:07Z")
The Democratic attack ads on Arnold are pathetic. They consist of and endlessly repeating loop of Arnold stumping for Bush at some event or another, like a good Republican governor should, saying “George W. Bush” in his memorable accent. Then the tagline: “If the Governor is for Bush, is he really for you?” or some nonsense like that. No issues, no reality, just…nothing. Of course, I can see them not wanting to spend any money for Angelides. The man’s a loser, plain and simple. In a strongly Democratic state, he is going to lose to Arnold by a landslide. The best part: Arnold’s reply - “I am no more linked to Bush than I am to an Oscar.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/27 "2006-10-13T03:09:53Z")
Lucky me, getting all the ads for Maryland _and_ Virginia. Which range from barely tolerable (Steele loves puppies – okay, but do we have to hear it 20 million times a fucking day?) to offensive and ugly. But I must say that you folks in Massachusetts have definitely taken it to a new level. And I’m still trying to recover from the near-asthma attack I gave myself laughing at that Vernon Robinson commercial. Is that man for _real_? Have we sunk _that_ low? ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/28 "2006-10-13T16:24:37Z")
[QUOTE=MsRobyn] I live in PA, where it seems that every other commercial is for Rick Santorum. It would be nice, except that 'ol Ricky-boy actually got his facts so wrong in one commercial, which named _his own supporters_ as Casey-supporting slimeballs. [/QUOTE] So _that’s_ who those characters are! All my local paper said was that the ad was a lie and they hadn’t contributed to Casey’s Senate campaign. I’d vote for a different ad from Mr. Santorum’s campaign, similar in tone to the one the OP refers to. For those of you who aren’t from Pennsylvania, a little over a year ago, our state legislature passed a bill giving themselves a pay raise late at night. This pay raise has been very unpopular with the voters ( **dances with cats** had a thread or two on it). At the time, Mr. Casey was state treasurer. Mr. Santorum has run an ad lambasting Mr. Casey because he actually dared to [gasp!] _sign the legislators’ paychecks!_ :eek: Can you believe he’d do such a terrible thing?! To quote The Capitol Steps, “Aren’t you going to biss? Aren’t you going to hoo?” How dare he actually do what he’s paid to do? Mr. Casey, by the way not only couldn’t vote on the pay raise, he very sensibly says he opposes it. There were, however two political ads my parents got a kick out of when they ran back-to-back. In the first ad, our current governor talked about how he cut property taxes for senior citizens. In the next ad, his opponent said, paraphrased, “If you got one of those tax cuts, go right ahead! Vote for him. If you didn’t, vote for me.” My parents, you see, are senior citizens who haven’t seen one of those pay cuts. On the other hand, the main thing the challenger seems to have done is played in the Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers. While I’ve nothing against football players going into politics, I’d prefer they start with a job other than governor. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/29 "2006-10-13T19:23:23Z")
[QUOTE=Gorsnak] I have the questionable fortune of receiving Detroit network affiliates in my cable package, giving me the unmitigated pleasure of watching gubenatorial candidates DeVos and Granholm snipe at each other endlessly. I’m in Saskatchewan. I don’t give a flying fuck whether DeVos owns a factory in China (though personally, and this may be just me, I’m not sure I’d want the CEO of the largest pyramid scheme in existence as a political leader - but none of the anti-DeVos ads even go after that point). Hell, I don’t even know why the clip of Granholm saying, “And in five years, you’re going to be blown away,” is supposed to be incriminating, but I’ve seen it so often I hear it in my sleep. Can you guys hold the fucking election already? I just want to watch Lost. [/QUOTE] Devos is so rich ,he ran ads months before anyone was even thinking of the election. They run endlessly now. No one mentions his anti evolution stance .His ambition is president so watch out. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2006, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/30 "2006-10-13T20:55:19Z")
Simpering slime-flinger Kerry Healey, who’s accused Deval Patrick of cozying up to rapists, has moved on to [flinging more mud](http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/10/13/patrick_healey_leaked_report_about_relatives_criminal_past/) at Patrick’s running mate: > [@](#): > > On Friday, Healey opened a fresh line of attack, criticizing Worcester Mayor Tim Murray, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor and Patrick’s running mate, for handling appeals of people challenging their classification by the Sex Offender Registry Board. Murray is a defense attorney, but he said he took some of the cases at the request of the court. > > “I know that the court needs people to take these cases, and that it’s part of our adversarial system,” Healey said. “The question is, simply, ‘Is that the priority that you want to have your next governor and lieutenant governor to have?’” This has enraged many among the legal profession, as well it should: > [@](#): > > Arguing that Healey has “launched an assault” on the legal profession, the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly announced Friday that it was endorsing a candidate for governor for the first time, and would back Patrick. > > “What is Healey’s message? That criminal-defense attorneys somehow should be associated with, or blamed for, the actions of their clients? That protecting important constitutional rights is somehow a seedy business?” the newspaper said in an editorial that will be published Monday. > > “Healey has resorted to the worst form of pandering, openly inviting voters to think of Patrick as someone who associates with criminals. Her finger-pointing has a flavor of McCarthyism, suggesting that anyone who has spent time in the criminal-defense arena should be identified, called out and avoided,” the newspaper said But Healey’s chosen line of attack may be about to blow up in her prissy face. Today’s Boston Herald (fishwrap for the knuckledraggers) has published a story dragging Patrick’s sister and her family through the mud, all to hammer on this “Deval loves rapists and he wants them running free to attack you!” theme: > [@](#): > > CAMBRIDGE, Mass. --Deval Patrick blamed Kerry Healey for a newspaper story on Friday that revealed his brother-in-law had raped his sister in California in 1993 and is now being required to register as a sex offender. > > “It’s pathetic and it’s wrong,” the Democratic gubernatorial nominee said in a statement he read to reporters his campaign had assembled to talk about stem cell research. “By no rules of common decency should their private struggles become a public issue, but this is the politics of Kerry Healey and it disgusts me and it has to stop.” > > Patrick took no questions and his staff did not detail why he blamed Healey for the revelation, made in stories printed in Friday’s editions of the Boston Herald. While Patrick did not specifically accuse Healey of leaking the story, he said “the garbage peddlers who shopped this story around town are part of (Healey’s) failed politics.” > > [snip] > > Patrick said the sexual assault on his sister Rhonda Sigh by her husband, Bernard Sigh, occurred 13 years ago when she was living in San Diego, California. Patrick said Sigh pleaded guilty to the crime and served a short time in prison in California. > > In 1995, a year after his sister moved to Milton, she reconciled with Sigh and the couple has raised their two children, according to Patrick. > > [snip] > > Patrick said the couple’s children were unaware of the incident until the stories were printed. Patrick described his sister, now 51, as an avid churchgoer who, along with her husband, now counsels couples in crisis. So did someone among Healey’s people dig this up and ship it off to the slavering scandalmongers at the Herald? Or did their own muckrakers come up with it? Or does it really matter? Healey’s focussed her campaign not on creative ideas but on mud-flinging attacks, and if she gets blamed for slime she isn’t actually reponsible for, well, boo-hoo-hoo. I hope any undecideds who were being swayed by her crap will turn away from her in disgust. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2006, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/31 "2006-10-14T04:51:28Z")
The Herald has definitely been using its front page to hammer at Patrick in the past week or so. I think the main jist of one of their stories is that some people think he was too concerned with criminals’ civil rights when he was the top civil rights guy in the Clinton DoJ. Of course, knowing exactly would involve reading the Herald, which isn’t really something I need to subject myself to. Either way, I’m voting against Healy simply to punish her for being part of the Romney administration. Working with a douchebag who would (for one example) use his line item veto to slash funding for suicide prevention programs for gay and lesbian youth, so as to increase his standing with voters in early Republican primaries, is enough that I don’t really need to look at anything else. Personally, if Patrick maintains a strong lead going into the election, I’ll throw my vote away on independent candidate Christy Mihos (who’s got the best campaign ad I’ve ever seen). Otherwise, I’ll vote for Patrick, who’s actually closer to my opinions on the issues, but who I just don’t like as much as Mihos (who’s apparently polling 6 or 7% statewide, but probably commands a plurality of people I know who have any real opinion on the matter). Also, what the hell’s the big deal about giving drivers licenses to illegal immigrants? While I’m not in favor of going around trying to make sure all illegal immigrants have licenses, I really don’t think it’s the place of the state to require proof of citizenship or residency status just to get a drivers license. I’ve noticed this mentioned an unusually large amount considering the really minor issue it seems to be. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2006, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/32 "2006-10-14T05:52:31Z")
I hate Healy so very very much. So Duval Patrick was a defense attourney and was effective at his job. Well I’d say that a hell of alot better then a Lt governer who was ineffective at her job. ---
**Author:** ![Monocracy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monocracy/32/4493_2.png) [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/33 "2006-10-14T22:00:04Z")
There was more slime thrown at Patrick from Healey. Apparently, Patrick donated a few thousand dollars to a fund for a convicted rapist. What was the fund for? A DNA test that could prove his innocence. As it turns out, the DNA test incriminated him even more. And Healey is trying to spin this like it’s a bad thing, that he helps rapists. But to me, the test would either get an innocent man out of jail or prove the guilt of a convict. It’s a win-win situation to me. I was thinking about going third party this race, either Ross (Green) or Mihos (Ind.). But these tactics are so slimy, i’m going to fill the bubble for Patrick. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/34 "2006-10-15T04:09:10Z")
Oh, that’s a new fucking low. The rape of his sister? Jesus Christ. I had heard wrong. I thought that his (bio) brother was the rapist, and they were attempting to tar him by familial association. Still low, but it makes a bit of sense. But the fact that his sister was raped? Good God, that’s fucking evil. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/35 "2006-10-15T04:41:58Z")
According to Emily’s List, a progressive and feminist PAC, the Republican National spending against their candidates is 98% smear, 2% issues. That runs true to the Rove model: attack, attack, attack. Fear and smear, smear and fear, fear and smear, smear and fear. That’s all the Grand Oil Party will have to say until election day. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/36 "2006-10-15T08:02:08Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] The Democratic attack ads on Arnold are pathetic. They consist of and endlessly repeating loop of Arnold stumping for Bush at some event or another, like a good Republican governor should, saying “George W. Bush” in his memorable accent. [/QUOTE] I’ve seen too many of these. I had no intention of of voting for Arnold Schwartzenwhatist, but I just thought 'Is\* that \* the best you could come up with???" It seems to be. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/37 "2006-10-16T23:36:11Z")
The worst part is Healey didn’t need to do it - she could have just hammered Patrick on [the issues](http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2006/10/01/patrick_has_a_big_lead_in_new_poll/?page=full), more effectively. Do we really want a lawyer as Governor? Hmmm … ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/38 "2006-10-16T23:53:01Z")
I have one in Ohio that sticks in my throat. Here is the video link [http://bettymontgomery.com/assets/video/BDM\_PLUMBER30.wmv](http://bettymontgomery.com/assets/video/BDM_PLUMBER30.wmv) I have actually always liked Betty. When my husband gets/got to meet with her, I always ask to go (he never lets me- it’s business). But, in this ad, she claims her opponent “defends criminals LIKE child molesters” while Betty works to go after child molesters. COME ON!! You cannot even make the claim that he has ever defended a child molester, so you attack him for being a defense attorney. Oh Betty, that is disrespecting the court system that you claim to uphold. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/39 "2006-10-21T18:44:10Z")
Bumping this thread with the latest on Healey/Patrick. We now have the [live-action version](http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2006/10/21/inmates_take_protests_to_patrick/) of negative ads… > [@](#): > > Campaign activists dressed in orange prison jump suits picketed the homes of Democratic candidate Deval L. Patrick and his campaign manager yesterday, as the nasty tone of the campaign for governor moved from the airwaves and debate halls into two residential neighborhoods. > > About a half-dozen demonstrators showed up at Patrick’s home in Milton at about 7 a.m., dressed to appear like inmates and brandishing placards mocking him as a coddler of criminals, according to Patrick’s campaign. At about the same time, two people wearing orange jump suits appeared at the Abington residence of his campaign manager, John Walsh. > > Walsh’s 12-year-old son, who was home alone preparing to catch his school bus, called his father, who had left for work. Walsh’s wife, Donna, who was also on her way to work, became concerned about her son and called Abington police to go the house. Police say the pair left by the time officers arrived. > > … > > “If your path to the governor’s office includes scaring the heck out of people, you should be embarrassed,” said Doug Rubin, Patrick’s senior adviser. > > The tensions mounted as Healey’s media strategists decided yesterday to more than double the television airtime for her controversial ad that shows a woman walking through a dark garage and highlights Patrick’s support of convicted rapist Benjamin LaGuer. I hope Healey loses by a landslide. I also hope Question 1 will pass so I can get 2-Buck Chuck in my local Trader Joe’s! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975/40 "2006-10-21T19:15:09Z")
New York elections are usually such blow-outs that at least we get to avoid campaign ads. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/negative-campaign-ads/375975.md?page=3)