DENVER — In Congressional District 7, former state senator Ed Perlmutter is strongly criticizing Republicans over a piece of direct mail that was designed to look like a sex-offender notification. The brochure accuses Perlmutter of being soft on crime. The mailing was paid for by the state Republican Party, not by Perlmutter’s opponent, Rick O’Donnell. O’Donnell said he had no control over the brochure.
Man, I am sick to death of this election season. Too many desperate Republicans (and, sadly, a few desperate Democrats) have turned this election season into a bitter, disrespectful, mean-spirited slimefest of almost unimaginable proportions. Issues? We don’t need no stinkin’ issues. We don’t WANT no stinkin’ issues…because Republicans have NOTHING, and they know it. When you have nothing to offer, I suppose the only remaining option is to paint your opponent as a cross between Ted Bundy, Adolph Hitler, and John Wayne Gacy.
CANDIDATE X: A LIBERAL SCUMWAD AND PEDOPHILE OF THE FIRST ORDER. CANDIDATE X WILL RAISE YOUR TAXES, MAKE BIG GOVERNMENT EVEN BIGGER AND MORE INTRUSIVE, AND HE’LL RAPE YOUR WIFE AND SEXUALLY EXPLOIT YOUR CHILDREN. CANDIDATE X: TOO LIBERAL FOR [insert name of state, municipality, or Congressional district]. CANDIDATE X: A THREAT TO THE HONOR AND VIRTUE OF OUR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
Perlmutter said the mailing is a new low for negative political ads and he called it ugly, desperate and the worst kind of politics at a news conference on Tuesday.
“There’s been nothing like this coming out of our campaign or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee,” said Perlmutter. “This thing is bad.”
Bad? Bad doesn’t begin to describe this crap. I understand that “fear and smear” is a time-honored Republican tradition and campaign tactic…but you have to think that even this barrel has a bottom. Right?
The brochure criticizes some of Perlmutter’s past votes on crime resembling a notification homeowners would receive to inform them if a convicted sex offender had moved into their neighborhood.
“This is an abominable situation. This is outrageous,” said former Adams County Sheriff Bill Shearer. “Our police agencies and our sheriff’s offices have enough to do without getting calls from terrified neighbors after receiving trash like this in the mail.”
I realize that this is an issue of free speech, but it’s also an issue of common decency. If you’re running for office, shouldn’t you at least be able to conduct yourself and your campaign as a reasonable human being? Disagree with your opponent, point out the flaws in his opinions and programs…but is it really so hard to do so while treating your opponent (and the voters you’re trying to win over) as decent, reasonable HUMAN BEINGSS, capable of responding to reasoned and considered arguments?
At Tuesday’s news conference several former Republican senators backed up Perlmutter saying he once voted against a notification bill at the request of a sponsor.
“This was intended to look official. It was intended to scare people and it is a very sleazy kind of thing to do,” said Dottie Wham, House Bill 97 sponsor.
Political consultant Katy Atkinson said the ad isn’t that unusual.
“You have to get people’s attention. The airwaves are crowded. Mailboxes are crowded,” said Atkinson. “So you have to do something to have your information stand out, so that’s often why fear is employed.”
OK; I recognize the need to attract attention late in a campaign-especially if polls shows that you’re running behind. Nonetheless, if you have to stoop this low to win votes, can you honestly say with no trace of irony that you DESERVE to be elected?
