Baucus smear campaign goes beyond the pale of politics

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Nov 12, 2002 | by Richard Eastburn

Too bad the Ten Commandments and the Constitution are not taught in schools. Maybe the politicians who use words to imply falsehoods about their opponents are running afoul of the Supreme law and do not know it!

Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana used smear tactics to damage his Republican opponent, Mike Taylor ["Smear Tactics Cloud Big Sky Country," Oct. 29-Nov. 11]. Did he know he was violating the Commandment to "not bear false witness"? You know the one--it's right after the Commandments that say do not kill, steal or commit adultery. Don't people go to jail for such behavior? When will we hold members of the legislative and executive branches of government to the high standards we all expect?

As an independent voter I am "mad as hell" about the nonsense of political campaigns. Politicians spend so many millions of dollars that could go to better use. Further, we all want to deal with the issues of this nation's ills and our conduct with the rest of the world.

A political ad showing a 20-year-old demonstration of a candidate's former legitimate occupation is worse than trivial.

Richard Eastburn
Chagrin Falls, Ohio

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