"Now a pro-Bush 527 is launching an ad that reminds the American voter of how the President acted in the aftermath of 9/11. A pro-Kerry 527 is running a despicable ad arguing that blacks will have their votes suppressed as in the days of the civil rights movement, and uses a picture of a fire-hose turned on blacks. Voters can see the choice between Bush and Kerry in the choice between these two ads."
Hugh Hewitt, October 19, at www.hughhewitt.com
"John Kerry wasn't nominated because of his sparkling personality. He wasn't nominated because of his selfless commitment to causes larger than himself. He was nominated because he's a fighter. At the end of every campaign he comes out brawling. This was the guy who could take on Bush. So nobody could imagine how incompetent, crude and over-the-top Kerry has been in this final phase of the campaign. ... The truth, however, is that voters are not idiots. They are capable of independent thought. If you attack your opponent wildly, ruthlessly, they will come to their own conclusions."
David Brooks, New York Times, October 19.
Just for the record, I agree with David Brooks. I am utterly confident that the American people are quite capable of figuring out when a candidate is dishing out dirt; when an office seeker is substituting character assassination for a defense of his own position; and when a politician, cornered by his own inadequacies, is lashing out blindly.
I've watched electoral politics since 1960. In all the tumultuous years since the razor-edge victory of John Kennedy over Richard Nixon, I have never seen the "mainstream media" so blatantly in one candidate's corner. And, when you think about it, that's quite a mouthful.
In contrast to Kerry's no-dirt-left-unslung approach, I want to talk about something that appears in a book review that ran in today's Washington Times. Ronald Reagan's pollster, Dick Wirthlin, has written a new book titled, "The Greatest Communicator: What Ronald Reagan Taught Me about Politics, Leadership, and Life." It sounds like a delightful look back at one of the three greatest Presidents of the 20th century, and I fully intend to read it ASAP.
There's a line in the review, written by Robert M. Smalley that really snapped me to attention. Smalley observed, "Mr. Reagan put long hours and meticulous care into the writing, wording and preparation of his major speeches. He never lost touch with his own guideline: Persuade through reason and motivate through emotion."
I would add that there are emotions and there are emotions. A major part of Ronald Reagan's greatness, and the primary reason he was such an incredible communicator, was that the President unwaveringly appealed to our nobler emotions. And what makes this even more significant is that Mr. Reagan did so not as an expression of unbridled personal ambition, but in service to the nation he loved so dearly.
Which leads me to what is among the most maddening features of how this election is being covered: the inability, or unwillingness, of most reporters to make elementary distinctions. The unfortunate result is to embolden Kerry and Edwards in their campaign of smears and vilification.
How do reporters hide the sleaziness of Kerry's campaign? With the exception of a few writers, such as Brooks, by indulging in moral equivalency with a vengeance.
For example, they take after Mr. Bush for supposedly harping unduly on this or that quality of Sen. Kerry. And if both sides are guilty....
Consider what is going on. If Bush talks about Kerry as a flip-flopper or a liberal, we are told that this is no different than implying--or stating outright--that Bush is (in no particular order) a liar, a racist, a closet Nazi, and a man whose core supporters (evangelical Christians) are the ideological soul mates of the terrorists who destroyed the twin towers and who behead helpless victims in Iraq. (This latter accusation is courtesy of a vicious hatchet job in last Sunday's New York Times magazine.)
On a much higher plane, the quote from Hugh Hewitt that begins this column refers to a television ad that began running today. Paid for by The Progress for America Voter Fund, it tells the true, unembellished story of Ashley Faulkner's remarkable encounter with President Bush.
To quote USA Today, "The ad was inspired by a photo of Bush hugging Ashley Faulkner, who is now 16, while campaigning in Lebanon, Ohio, on May 4. The photo, taken by the girl's father, Lynn Faulkner, was widely circulated on the Internet." Ashley's mother died in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
I will not spoil the power of this meeting by going into any further detail. You can see the ad for yourself online at www.ashleysstory.com.
When you see it, you will understand precisely why there are so many stories circulating that underscore President Bush's deep reservoir of compassion and caring. The next time you hear the President's character assassinated, remember that Americans have in the White House not a phony-baloney who manipulates the emotions of others for his own benefit, but a man who is genuinely able to feel the pain of others.
Again, the site is www.ashleysstory.com. View it and please pass the web address along to all your friends.
Ashley's Story