"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have"
Thomas Jefferson

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Interesting Correlation

In reviewing a news release yesterday from Darrel Aubertine's campaign, it was quite noticeable their use of strong language in what can be perceived as a personal attack. Drew Mangione refers to a Renzi challenge on an issue by using the word 'lie' in the news release 4 times.

First thoughts is that it is a very strong word which generally means you are directly referring to someone as a liar which is distinctly different from debating and disagreeing with someone on issues and it reaches the point of personally attacking your opponent.

Then watching the Presidential debate last night while at the same time following ABC's Jake Tapper live blogging of the debate pops up this comment by Jake
10:34 - I really don't care for the sudden acceptability of the word "lie" by campaigns.
Jake, you nailed it!

Drew and any other campaign spokespeople do not let politics overcome your decency, refrain from using language that personally attacks someone's character and stick to disagreeing on the issues. The whole concept behind poltical competition is the advancing of competing ideas and subsequent discourse.

Contrasting and compaing ideas or policy positions is not negative, just be respectful.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

PIV (which, incidentally is also Pelvic Inflammatory Disease...FYI) you are really reaching here. The bottom line here is that Renzi his BFF Swartz are scrambling. They have turned negative (call it what you will...everybody sees what is happening) and are trying to make the public think that the Aubertine campaign has as well. Hmmmm....isn't that lyi...er, I mean, not telling the truth?

Anonymous said...

If a lie is a lie and Magione is calling Renzi a liar, isn't Mangion the liar?

ConcernedCitizen said...

The term Lawyer comes from the latin word for liar.
Where do you suppose Republican came from?

Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius) said...

Q: "How do you tell when candidates are telling the truth?"

A: "When they call each other liar."

Anonymous said...

"Drew and any other campaign spokespeople do not let politics overcome your decency, refrain from using language that personally attacks someone's character and stick to disagreeing on the issues."

i suspect you genuinely mean what you wrote, iv, but that's still a shocking bit of advice coming from you, the writer of a blog that specializes in character assassination and the general trashing of your political opponents (i.e. democrats). we're still waiting to hear something -- anything -- about why you support mccain. before, it was all about obama's "celebrity", or maybe occasionally his "inexperience", but then sarah palin came on the scene and those lines of attack went out the window. and now it's something about obama's "arrogance", but that's probably done too since john mccain couldn't even bother to look at obama during the debate friday night. what'll it be next?

and as for the particulars of your post, avoidance of the word "lie" would serve only to further debase our political discourse. any sensible discussion of political issues must be founded on facts. when these facts are misrepresented or lied about, it is incumbent upon us all to call the lies out, in plain english; otherwise we become complicit in the corruption of our politics. the word "lie" is emotionally loaded for a reason: not because it shouldn't be used, but because the liar earns a heavy burden to bear.

City Watch said...

Fair enough HT

To the issue itself. The back and forth that produced this little gem of a news release was about Renzi claiming jobs were being lost in the prison cut back. That is when Aubertine & Co. stated Renzi is lying.

So, you read this article and tell me who is right.

Prison's in NNY to lose 14 jobs

The day these 14 people retire is the day we will have 14 fewer good paying jobs in Northern New York.

If a lie is a lie, then a job cuts are job cuts.

Anonymous said...

You still havent solved the ATV problem.

Anonymous said...

I'd be interested in knowing who at the Renzi campaign is funneling info. and arguments to this website.

Anonymous said...

Nice job, rwiley, insulting the hundreds of hard-working attorneys in the North Country who, sometimes, actually help people.

The word lawyer comes from the Middle English and revolves around the word "lawe," which has obvious meaning.

Are you saying that the "lawe" is a lie?

Ironic that a piece about keeping campaigns respectful nearly instantly produces a half dozen personal attacks and one blatant, insulting distortion.

Way to keep it on the issues, left-side.

City Watch said...

I'd be interested in knowing who at the Renzi campaign is funneling info. and arguments to this website.

I really just pay close attention to the races, I can develop my own arguments.

Besides, what is the point anyway, what matters? They can't be afraid to answer questions that the public wants to know.

Anonymous said...

iv, i think you've given me another broken link. i sorted it out anyway, but this is all completely beside the original point. if your new point is that the aubertine campaign is wrongly accusing the renzi campaign of lying, then give us some links (the statements from the campaigns would be helpful) and state your case.

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