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Legitimate Debate or How to Demonize for Dummies?

By Steve Lombardi

I wrote a post analyzing the negative campaigning and the effects this type of debate tactic has on developing solutions to the real problems we have in this country. Some of the comments led me to analyze this subject concerning legitimate political debate and how the negative labeling and demonization derails developing solutions to the real problems Americans face. I don’t remember any election having as much information to use. Here are a few examples.

One person who commented assumed because there was more negative information about McCain that I supported Obama. In reality the most negative of the negative comes from the McCain/Palin ticket. That’s just the truth of the matter. It’s a fact. One can not draw any conclusions of my party affiliation or voting decision because John McCain and Sarah Palin choose to be so negative. But this comment does partially demonstrate the point being made. It’s the first step used by a person who can’t win the point in a debate. He’s trying to draw me into disclosing who I might be for so he can then label and then demonize me. It’s the same tactic Adolph Hitler and Saddam Hussein used.

Sarah Palin I simply hold in contempt for her emotionally charged negative style and lack of ANY qualifications to be anything except a stewardess on Air Force One.

One person who took the time to comment was angry with how the media is reporting the news. He thought they were biased in favor of Obama; just because like my article did, they too are reporting the obvious; negative debate and demonization of the opposition in order to win debates on points where the debater is weak. Isn’t the Republican Party getting a taste of what they started during the last two elections? Wasn’t it the Republican Party and those that supported the Republican candidates who resorted to what the media is doing to them now? Are any of McCain’s supporters critical of Fox News? Or do they get a free ride because they agree with their flavor of News-a-tainment?

Read my article and you’ll notice I've criticized Barak Obama and John McCain. Sarah Palin I simply hold in contempt for her emotionally charged negative style and lack of ANY qualifications to be anything except a stewardess on Air Force One.

This is exactly what the article is about; when you can’t win the debate on the issues you resort to demonizing the speaker.

The media are angry with the Republicans for many reasons and are simply reporting what the Republicans and Fox News have been engaging in for too long. Remember the reporters vote too and pay income taxes. They have a conscience as well; something the candidates would be wise to further develop. It's their job to report. If John McCain wants them to leave him alone he need only stop the negative campaigning and start talking about THE ISSUES that affect this country; rather than whether Mr. Obama hangs around with domestic terrorists. The public knows by now who he hangs with and frankly don’t seem to care. I’d be more concerned with McCain hanging out with Gee-dubbya for the past eight years. History may prove him to be our Nations number one domestic terrorist. Negative campaigning has nothing to do with the critical issues this country faces. The name calling by the Republicans most of us grew out of after third grade. The fact that it’s so prevalent and they make is so easy for me to write about, says nothing about who I or anyone else might vote for.

Here is the current Republican Debate Strategy: First you draw conclusions where you have scant evidence to do so and second when your logic fails you resort to name calling and try to demonize the opposition with a label.

It’s shameful. It’s embarrassing for the country and it appeals to the lowest common denominators in this country.

Those of you who think that what I wrote is anti-McCain/Palin should reexamine why you’ve drawn that conclusion. Just because McCain and Palin engage in more of the bad behavior that I’ve described in my post provides no support for assuming you know my party affiliation, my leanings in politics, whether I like Obama or whether I’ll vote for either candidate. Maybe I intend not to vote. Have you considered that as an option? This is exactly what the article is about; when you can’t win the debate on the issues you resort to demonizing the speaker. In reality the demon you let out of the box is the same one Hitler and Saddam Hussein used to control their opposition. It’s the same one that got us into the War in Iraq. There were no weapons of mass destruction; there was nothing but hot air coming out of Iraq and also out of Washington. Now Iraq exports terrorists and we look like the Worlds number one terrorist organization that is dumb enough to spend billions and billions of dollars every month trying to justify our initial mistake. And when our logic proved faulty how did we react? We compounded the mistake and demonized those who oppose doing more of the same. It now appears what we are good at is creating more domestic terrorists; foul mouthed politicians with dull brains that demonize the opposition because their logic fails to win the debate.

In reality the demon you let out of the box is the same one Hitler and Saddam Hussein used to control their opposition.

As far as my post is concerned all who demonize the opposition to win the argument are the domestic terrorists. They terrorize the U.S. Constitution. They terrorize the general public with false claims and labels and derail legitimate debate in order to raid the U.S. treasury. Yes John, you and Sarah Palin are the real domestic terrorists. You and she should be ashamed of yourselves and how you’ve debated during this election. Especially you John; you of all people should know and act better. You sat in a POW camp because you were supposedly fighting against leaders that look an awfully lot like the one you are becoming. Debate the issues; honor the Constitution’s framework that encourages the free flow of ideas, debate, and freedom of speech and of association.

It now appears what American is good at is creating more domestic terrorists; foul mouthed politicians with dull brains that demonize the opposition because their logic fails to win the debate.

And please, please, please, please send Sarah Palin packing. Let her keep the clothes but send Caribou Jane or whatever the campaign calls herself this week back to the Yukon; because if anything deserves to be demonized it’s her style.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on October 26, 2008 (boomark / email).