The Clean Campaign

As I've mentioned in earlier posts, I am sick of the cries of racism in the presidential campaign. There have certainly been racist comments by supporters of both candidates, but the candidates themselves and their actual campaign messages have been no different than those we have always seen in presidential politics with two white candidates. Sure, some of the attacks have been mean and many have been misleading, but that's politics. This campaign has actually been rather tame. It could have been much, much dirtier.

John McCain cheated on his first wife. In a genuinely dirty campaign, we'd have seen 527 ads reminding voters of that fact. We haven't. Don't forget Gary Hart's presidential campaign was sunk by the revelation of an affair and Bill Clinton's first run was marked by such a scandal. The New York Times ran a smear article alleging McCain had an affair with a lobbyist, but that was quickly put aside by all the campaigns. Historically speaking, that's very clean campaigning.

Barack Obama admits to having used cocaine and other drugs. In a genuinely dirty campaign, we'd have seen 527 ads reminding voters of that fact. We haven't. In 2000, no shortage of ink was given to the possibility that George W. Bush might have used cocaine and that he once got a DUI. Bill Clinton's "I didn't inhale" was part of countless attacks. Obama's drug use has been left alone. Again, by historical standards, that's very clean campaigning.

Dr. King said we should judge people by the content of their character, and I think both of these campaigns have aimed attacks there. That isn't nice, and it makes for a rough fight, but not a dirty one.