By now, you have seen the campaign ads rolling away on print, TV, and social media. Its the midterms and apparently there is a lot at stake. The biggie is the control of the Senate. If the Republicans can score a majority, then they will have total control of Congress. Georgia is a player in that where David Perdue and Michelle Nunn battle for that US Senate seat. Georgia also has the gubernatorial race with incumbent Nathan Deal against Jason Carter. Both of these races are really big for Georgia. So with that comes the attack ads. These are not uncommon, in fact they are becoming the norm. Paint your opponent as the most unfit, unpleasant, and undeserving candidate and maybe that will get you a boost right? No so fast! A lot of voters find these negative ads as a turn off to a candidate. But you see, usually the candidate themselves do not put out those negative ads. Its usually a PAC of some sort, making their message clear but at the same time, somewhat hurting the candidate. Sometimes, it actually works out. But with so many ads out there, and so many spins on what the candidate says, who do you believe? People shouldn't have to toss a coin in the air just to choose a candidate. CBS 46 news along with KSU political science department sorts some of those ads out.
I am in a truth-testing class run by Dr. Pieper. Every week we get a political statement from a candidate and do crap tons of research and give it a grade. A-F, with A being undoubtably true and F flat out no truth or merit. We are doing week 5 at the moment and I can tell you that media is all politics. Just as Graber mentions about private surveillance, our truth-test can be unflattering news for a candidate. I have noticed that things aren't complete lies....they take the truth and stretch is as far as humanly possible. That spin, really is unfair to the voters. But thats what happens in politics.
Truth Test No. 3: Nathan Deal on education - CBS46 News
Thanks Jason for enlightening me about this topic. This is really interesting. I am looking forward to running for political office in the next few years, and I am determined to run a clean, honest, data proof campaigin. I get so frustrated with all of the bickering and negative ads too, and I believe we can actually have honest and open debate and dialogue without all of the bashing. I AM TO BE DIFFERENT!!! And, you are right, the spin is unfair to voters, but that's what happens in politics.
ReplyDeleteJason, you are correct about the spin that politics put in their campaigns being unfair to voters. I agree that I have learned a lot while being in Dr. Piepers, Truth-Testing class, and what we find every week is amazing. It makes you wonder what is truly real and what is not. I guess you could say that it is the mask of politics. I guess this is why some media's test the statements made by political leaders in rode to help inform the voters about what is really being said and to help them be aware of the truth.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your position that most of these ads are complete crap for lack of a better descriptive. The sad part is, is that so many people actually believe these ads, and will vote accordingly. I love the fact that you do the research on the ads in another class. I have also done some research on the recent ads, and when I discover the truth, I'm shocked #1 at how far from the truth they normally are and #2, at how these ads are even allowed on television to begin with. I mean, you can't even drink a beer on TV per censorship laws, but no worries, you can lie like hell to make another candidate look like a moron. I just think it's funny that people actually listen to these ads, and then try to use them in debate with other colleagues, without researching the topic at all.
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