Negative Politics: Pervasive in New Jersey (and Beyond)

by: mikeshapiro

Wed May 23, 2007 at 11:20:58 PM EDT

Cross-Posted from ShapTalk.com:

Politics has always had its share of negativity and personal invective.  In the election of 1884, Republicans backing James Blaine for President circulated the phrase "Ma, ma, where's my pa?” referring to an affair Grover Cleveland, the Democratic nominee, had engaged in prior to entering politics.  Unfortunately, such a tactic is tame by today’s standards.  In Hudson County, Democrat Sal Vega, who is running for State Senate against Brian Stack, accuses Stack and his allies of harassing and “paying off” the opposition and “abusing” City employees.  Also in Hudson  County, Assemblyman Manzo and Sandra Bolden Cunningham have unleashed assaults against each other for the right to claim the contested Senate seat there.  On the Republican side of the aisle, Larry Casha and Jay Webber are engaging in a fiercely negative campaign for the District 26 Senate seat, with Webber recently stating that Casha “is proud of his tax and spend record.” 

Of course, there is probably a morsel of truth to the arguments on each side in all of these races but that “truth” is lost in the barrage of insults and innuendo, at the expense of the public.  While negative campaigning has been shown to be effective, it does little to truly educate and inform the public but rather exaggerates and distorts the truth and increases distrust, cynicism and apathy among our residents.    

As long as we have low voter turnout and citizens stay tuned out and uninvolved in the political process, campaigns will continue to play to the lowest common denominator.  When the press dutifully reports every negative attack and personal blow but fails to report substantive discussion, politicians will continue to rely on negative campaigns to guide their elections.  An active and informed citizenry would force politicians to answer the tough questions and deal with the real problems facing our State in a meaningful way.  A diligent press corps would make sure that the tough questions are asked and answered and reported in an objective and honest manner.  However, in a State where people are turned off to politics and have lost faith in the system while the media eschews its responsibility in favor of juicy headlines and profits, negative politics flourishes and allows politicians who thrive on personal attacks to not only win election year after year but become kingmakers in New Jersey’s political underworld.

Can we change this dynamic?  How can our residents become informed and involved in the political process?  How can we spur the media to take its responsibility seriously?