Will Republicans or Democrats come up with the most effective "dirty tricks" next election?

Question

I have observed that almost always that a party comes up with "dirty tricks" to use against the other party. They say or support others saying or implying things that are not true or have no basis in fact, etc. and it just seems to be an acceptable part of an election. And what could really be scary is what if "dirty tricks" possibly swayed an election and led to the election of a leader who could lead the nation to possible disaster. I was just trying to think what would be some of the "dirty tricks" that will be used and against who? I guess it depends a lot on who gets to run, but that is becoming more clear. Just wondering. I am thinking that the Republicans may have to use more of these tactics next time, since they may have a harder time getting their candidate elected?

Answer 1

I think both will. The recent moveon.org ad is showing the Dems are finally willing to play the game and adjust their strategy accordingly.

Answer 2

There won't be a more effective smear campaign than George H. W. Bush's "Willie Horton". But that was directed right at a Dukakis' policy of early release for prisoners. That pretty much took Dukakis out of the race.

This time around the Democrats have tons of ammo, which is why the Republican candidates are running away from Bush like he's got the plague and purging anyone who has a questionable past. It'll be an interesting year.

Answer 3

WHAT A DIRTY TRICK!

A long time ago, back in the fifties, there was a campaign for Governor of this southern state. The night before the election one of the two candidates announced on radio," It has just come to my attention, that my opponent is a homosapein!"

Because many people at that time did not know what that was, they thought the worst. Because his opponent did not have time to explain what that meant, he lost the election.

Of course, most of us today know that that is another word for a human being . But it sounds nasty.

(sorry if I mis-spelled that word, but Check Spelling didn't know what I was speaking either!) lol

Answer 4

Nixon was the king of dirty tricks. Here's another good dirty trick. Suppose you have a candidate with a questionable service record running against a decorated war veteran. Wouldn't it be a neat dirty trick to plant forged documents verifying your candidates questionable service record with a major network news magazine? That way after you discredit the story, no one would dare question your candidate's service record. Put the focus on the story rather than the record.

Answer 5

Probably over half of the slinging comes from groups not even associated with either party. Think about the "General Betray Us" add recently. Neither party had anything to do with it.

Yes their is still a lot coming from the candidates themselves. Most of that will be the same old she's a communist socialist and he's corrupted by big money blah blah blah that we here every year.

Answer 6

If you go by recent history, the Republicans--as you say they are going to have a tough time this election.

But--there's another reason. The Republicans keep managing to have one real scandal after another. If that pattern continues, the Democrats aren't going to need dirty tricks. Just sit back and let the Republicans hang themselves.

Answer 7

I dislike all politicians. None of them tell the truth. They tell each group what that group wants to hear, and then tells another the exact opposite. I think we have to come up with some sort of Political Malpractice laws. But since they are the ones who would make them it won't happen. That's why campaign finance is still a quagmire.

Answer 8

I hope that the voters play the most dirty tricks and vote the most partisan jerks out of office.

Answer 9

Democrats will.

If you are really interested in dirty tricks, check out what Bill Clinton & Lawton Chiles, gov of FL, pulled on Daddy Bush.
It was about the Hurricane that had hit.

It was so Dirty, but Effective.

I wish that Republicans would be as dirty and low down as Democrats.
That's why I cuss Republicans.
They just turn the other cheek, and that Pi**** me off.

Answer 10

The Dems have the ultimate dirty trick...promising everybody free health care they can't deliver and promising troop withdrawals they will be unable to make.