Stop the Madness!

I'm sure there are plenty of folks out there who are fed up with all the political ads on television.  I am beyond fed up.  I cannot so much as tolerate them any more.  When one of those ads comes on I immediately turn the channel and, if there's one on that channel, I turn it again.  These ads are out of control and I find them insulting.


I absolutely refuse to vote for anyone who runs an ad that contains any negative comment about another candidate even if that means writing in a name.  I am perfectly capable of reading and interpreting candidate information for myself.  I do not need, nor do I want, another candidate to interpret the facts, gossip, rumors or opinions for me and I am sick and tired of this insult to voter intelligence.  Let's just call it what it is: Manipulation. These people do not respect the voting public.  They are not concerned about any problems that need to be addressed in our state.  They are only concerned with getting elected.

When I see and hear those negative ads I think:

• the candidate who is slinging the mud is not trustworthy---why are they trying to take the focus off of themselves and put it on someone else?  
• this is a person who cares ONLY about getting elected
• this is not an honest, open person of integrity
• this person will probably not accept responsibility but pass the buck...

What I am looking for is the candidate who:

• focuses on his/her own viewpoints
• tells us what he/she would like to see done to make our state even better  
• shows that they are passionate about our state, it's issues and the people
• makes it obvious that he/she is compassionate about helping those in need
• has confidence related to his/her dedication to our state, our government, and in the endeavor to improve both 
• tells their own story
• says NO to his/her campaign manager by refusing to give negative interpretations of another candidate's story  

And please, please would they just stop using their religion as a tool for election.  Here in SC most (and by most I mean ALL) of our candidates stand on the Christian religion (which is why I am singling it out) yet, they run negative campaigns.  How is that Christian?  Seriously.  (How is that being a good steward of whatever your religion is?).  And how is manipulation of the voting public representative of being a Christian?  Do I have the wrong understanding of what it is to be a Christian?  Or are they clouding that concept for the voting public as well?  They claim to stand on family values.  Really?  So one of the values you teach your children is to do or say anything at all in order to win?  Even if it's not true or hurts someone else?  The most important thing is that you win? Really?  And you want your kids to strive to be hypocrites and gossips?  And to misrepresent the truth? Wow.  How sad is that?  How very sad indeed.

I am going to vote today.  But I am not voting for either of the two front runners for governor.  I'm not voting for anyone who said anything negative on television about their opponent(s).  I have a list and that list is SHORT.  The rest of my votes will be write-ins.