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The absurdity of campaign promises, and the presidential campaign coverage gap
By Richard Amrhine CANDIDATES love Smart voters know, however, that campaign "promises" are no such thing. They represent a wish list and should be characterized as goals. Because they want to sound authoritative, candidates will sound as though they are promising this or that. Voters need to understand that circumstances change, and that such pledges hinge on a legislature going along with an idea and funding it if necessary. Senate candidate and former Republican Gov. Jim Gilmore has charged that his successor and opponent, former Democratic Gov. Mark Warner, promised during the '01 gubernatorial campaign that he wouldn't raise taxes but then saddled Virginia taxpayers with the largest increase in Gilmore, it should be noted, won in 1997 by promising "No Car Tax," but was able to get rid Because of Gilmore's fiscal foolishness, Warner inherited a budget very much out of balance, a problem the depth of which Gilmore hid well. The only way Warner could provide Good thing Warner hadn't painted himself into a corner by signing one of those absurd no-tax pledges that Republicans favor. In nearly every case, Voters should understand that anything that sounds like a promise comes automatically with the unspoken "if I am able to" attached. That is always understood, and it is business as usual on the campaign trail. This of course applies to presidential candidates, as well. Their efforts to placate a diverse and far-flung electorate result in vague promises of cleaner air, improved access to health care, and better-paying jobs.
Even with the media falling all over Obama they make sure not to dig to deeply into his union ties or his ties to ACORN, you know the voter fraud organization, and make sure to cover any negatives quickly and brush them aside twice as quick....No matter how you try to paint it both the major parties are nothing but stooges to special interests as are the candidates themselves....It's like choosing one ice cream over another, just another version of the S*** O** S***.
especially if you're a McCain supporter who wants more media coverage. If the Media was really doing its job, we'd find out about the lobbyists and fundraisers running his campaign. We'd find out about the increase in oil company donations to the Republicans after he reversed his position on drilling. We'd find out about how Cindy McCain's beer distributorship lobbies regulatory agencies in opposition to MADD. We'd hear so many gaffes and stumbles that we would question McCain's competence.
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