Have you seen the hottest political ads of the campaign? I see one of them every time I turn on the TV in Des Moines. The ads are international news today, August 6, 2008.
If you Google “John McCain +Paris Hilton +video,” as of 9:30 EDT, you have your choice of 3000 news articles from all over the world. In a weaker moment Senator John McCain said, “I’m John McCain and I approved this message” at the end of an ad that compares Barack Obama to Paris Hilton. It’s the talk of the town. It’s the talk of the world. How can we explain the choice of this ad at a critical time in American history? Senior moment? Lapse of judgment? Jealous? Nothing substantive to talk about? Maybe McCain’s advisors were looking for a “substance-free” campaign.
It is quite possible that holding Paris Hilton up to public ridicule was not the brightest idea of the season.
I am looking forward to more substance and less trash-talk from the senior Senator from Arizona. After all, Senator McCain is an intelligent American hero: graduate of the Naval Academy, aviator, prisoner of war, a career in public service. And he really thought that all we wanted to know are his complaints about how popular Barack Obama is? That’s just not right.
Just so you are up on the latest international news, be sure to check out Paris Hilton’s response posted originally at Funny or Die and being broadcast from New York to Tokyo to Mumbai to London.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Jim Lindberg asked me if I would occasionally respond to some of the political ads. I used to teach philosophy, including logic, at Drake. So, I can use that knowledge for good or evil!
Well here’s a recent letter I wrote to the Register:
FLIP-FLOP
Let’s ban the term ‘flip-flop’ from politics! If politicians, including Obama and McCain, change their positions it might just be a sign of rationality and maturity.
For example, Obama is still opposed to off-shore drilling. But he is rational enough to recognize that he might have to accept it in order to get a comprehensive energy program passed by Congress.
Also, he believes we can start withdrawing troops now. However, he knows he may have to modify his position if conditions change.
Compromises have to be made and he has to work with Congress. That’s what the writers of the Constitution intended.
So let’s quit the name-calling and stupid ads by both sides. Instead, let’s try something novel and carefully critique their proposals. If we do, we’ll all be better off. But I think Obama will come out ahead.
Jon Torgerson
Ideally, politicians should not attack each other, they should attack the argument. Further, the attack on the argument should address form and content. For example, does the person have the facts correct. for example, will drilling for off-shore oil address the present cost of gas and make us more energy independent? It might not do the former, but might do the latter in ten years.
The problem is will anyone take the time to do it really critique an argument?
Socrates said that we all are capable of achieving the truth. Plato said that we won’t take the time to do so. Socrates was sentenced to death and Plato advocated a Fascist society. Is there much hope for democracy?
Jon Torgerson
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