Are political ads bashing opponents neccesary or effective?

Question

Has your vote every been swayed by a obvious ad bashing a political candidate?

Answer 1

No and no! It's far more effective to state what you stand for than to look like a jerk bashing the other guy.

Answer 2

Of course they are necessary. It supports at very large media industry and feeds the familes of many advertising and marketing types who depend on the frenzy. Now, those who pay attention to it are just like any other consumer - and they are influenced to buy or not buy as the mud is slung. The people who pay attention to the realities of politics don't let this stuff phase them much, realizing they will support a general party philosophy or dynamic rather than cave in to any shrill bashing near election time. Unfortunately there is a low percentage of voters who can even tell the differnece between democrats and republicans. The bashing advertising is aimed at them - the massive ignorant middle ground that is swayed by marketing dollars. And, by the way - there IS a difference between the two dominant parties in the US. Few have a clue. So few. Just think of the ad campaigns near elections as very large employment programs for the marketing companies. They have to make a living too.

Answer 3

Are they necessary? No. People should get their information from a variety of sources, and look at the facts, not the emotional appeal or mudslinging.

Are they effective? Unfortunately, they are. They work on the people who are too lazy or too stupid to research the issues, and what the candidate's stand on the issues are. I wish I could say this was a small minority of people. Too many elections have been decided by anything but the issues.

Answer 4

I am less inclined to vote for a candidate who runs a negative ad. I simply want to know what they stand for and the issues that they will support. I don't want them to tell me everything wrong with the other candidate; I can figure that out for myself. When candidates run negative ads it just shows me that they don't have a game plan for their tenure in office and they don't deserve to win.

Answer 5

because of both their contempt for the problem-loose human beings and their paranoia that the problem-loose human beings might want to upward push up. Striping the communist of his capacity and privileged position. subsequently they oppress warring parties, suppress the pass of guidance and indoctrinate those legions of senseless minions. Of which they could care a lot less if those minions die in preserving the State of Lies they have outfitted. So an envoy dies like a infidel dogs.

Answer 6

No and No. If someone is tearing someone else down, it reflects badly on them. Why not spend that time and money talking about your achievements and what your plan is?

Answer 7

nope.