From: aiko@opium.cs.odu.edu (John K Hayes)
Newsgroups: alt.activism,talk.politics.misc
Subject: Political smears - keep it in perspective folks
Date: 11 Apr 92 03:35:14 GMT
Organization: Old Dominion University Dept. of CS, Norfolk VA



In article <somethin-or-other>, somebody wrote:

>>> I am rapidly becoming convinced that *all* of the presidential candidates
>>> are *totally* *fucked*.  They all seem to *want* to be president *so*
>>> *badly* that they are gouging each other in the eyes.  What a disgusting
>>> spectacle.  A friend of mine says none of these people would make a decent
>>> pimple on Adlai Stevenson's ass.
>>
>>	Tsongas didn't exhibit this type of behaviour.  He was, to put it
>>mildly, quite restrained throughout the campaign.
>
>Almost torpid, in fact.

Folks, please keep in mind...politics is a game.  Part of the game is smearing
thy opponent.  That's just the way it is and always has been for as long as I
can remember (true I'm only 28).  

Listening to the above dialogue, it is *totally fucked* to be aggressive
toward your political opponents, but then in Tsongas' case, being non-aggressive
is "almost torpid".  Let's see, what does that mean anyway.....
Hmmmm....torpid: the state of being dormant, hibernating, lethargic, apathetic.
Well, that sounds *totally fucked* also.  So, if you're aggressive, you are
*totally fucked*; if you are non-aggressive, you are *totally fucked*.

You know, even the candidates themselves do not (supposedly) take attacks
from fellow candidates personally.  I think Clinton has communicated his
respect for Brown and Tsongas even after some pretty nasty blows.  That's
just the way the game is played.  In fact I think that stuff may even 
increase the respect one has for one's opponent (depending on how legitimate
the blow is I guess).

And 99.9% of all that crap is promulgated, instigated, and perpetuated by the
media, whose only interests are ratings and recognition rather than truth.
Take the recent drug thing ABC news chose to air on Brown.  What was the
"proof" offered for this slander?  Two unidentifed policemen.  That could
have been my neighbors kids pulling a crank call for all I know.  If they
are such a reliable source, why won't they even give their names???
As seen on the recent Donahue show with Brown and Clinton, the candidates
left to themselves without media and moderator interference are perfectly
capable of delivering a civil, respectful, substantive dialogue on, guess
what!, the *issues*.  There was not one slanderous utterance during that
debate.

So, please try to ignore the inevitible bullshit and concentrate on what
the candidates are really trying to say, and what they're *not* saying.
Case in point: what has George Bush really said about the health care issue,
the AIDS crisis, campaign finance reform, tax reform, the environment,
homelessness, substantive support to the American businessman whose market
and labor force is IN America???  Do you remember anything at all?  Any
sort of concrete plan???  No?  Right - nothing.  Diddly squat.  And that's
exactly what he will do about these things if he is re-elected, just as
he has done in the past 3 1/2 years and Reagan before him.  The last I heard,
Bush's "official health care policy" is still spread out in numerous
in-boxes, while he no doubt is wishing the whole thing will go away.  This
great Bush health care policy, whatever it may be, would not even exist if
not for those offered by the Democratic candidates, all of whom have very
specific models of working plans that are used in other countries.  

Sure, none of the candidates are perfect - they're all human.  And all of
their lofty goals and promises would be impossible to have implemented in
a four year term (possibly even eight) - all of them that is.  But, at
least the Democrats are offering substantial specific plans to turn the
tide here.  You can bet George Bush has no intention of turning any tides.
He is quite content with the status quo, and will most likely work to make
things even better for himself and his rich buddies.  But - speaking of
smearing opponents - he is quite adept at that, as we saw in the Dukakis
race.  If we want to get him the fuck out of there, we have to band together
and stand behind SOMEBODY, flawed though they may be.  We have to show UNITY,
people.  Justice and decency can prevail.  There is hope.

Personally, I think Jerry Brown's campaign has been the most refreshing I
have ever witnessed.  His number one goal is to combat the money mongers
who truly ARE the rulers of this great land.  They must be stopped, they are
THE ROOT of most, if not all, of the problems this country has.  If not for
Jerry Brown this would not even be an issue in this campaign - you can bet
on that.  The issue, if you're not familiar, is the FACT that elections in
this country are bought and sold by special interest groups, wealthy 
organizations, and Political Action Commitees to whom the elected officials
owe their allegiance.  The allegience of elected officials should lie with
the PEOPLE.  The PEOPLE have to do something about it or nothing will be done!
You also may have noticed the red ribbon Jerry Brown wears on his lapel;
this signifies his support and compassion for the MILLIONS of AIDS patients.
This is not a ho-hum, ok-let's-set-up-a-committee issue, guys.  It's serious.

Jerry Brown is also the only one who openly states that BOTH parties
are corrupt and need reforming - primarily where special-interest money and
policy based on re-election is concerned. At least with any conviction, anyway.

But, if (God forbid), Jerry loses the nomination, I will stand behind Bill
Clinton.  Bill Clinton also has some very good rhetoric (I'm not at this
point convinced it goes beyond rhetoric); although, his plans are not nearly
as radical and progressive as Jerry Brown's.  Nonetheless, if he wins the
nomination, he will have my support.  We have to pull together, people, to
get Bush out.  Please do not get frustrated and not vote.  That's the absolute
worst possible response you can make.

To learn what you can do to combat special interest money and political
action commitees, contact:

			Common Cause
			2030 M Street, NW
			Washington, DC 20036
			(202) 833-1200  Fax: (202) 659-3716

Take care - John Hayes
	    aiko@cs.odu.edu
-- 
    ---{john hayes}  Old Dominion University; Norfolk, Virginia USA
                     internet: aiko@cs.odu.edu
                     Work: (804) 858-5061  <Raytheon Service Co.>