This election year has been ugly. There is nothing worse than the twisting of information that has led both sides to attack the others character. This politiblog has heavily criticized Mitt Romney for lacking vision and consistency, the two biggest assets for a leader. But he is an able business manager whose success is unquestionable. Romney is seeking to refocus the national spotlight on his strengths this week as the Republican National Convention gets underway a day late, calling team Obama low for linking him to Congressman Akin’s horrible rape comments. Romney said Obama’s campaign was just sad.
Sure, we can all pity Romney for being bullied. Normally, he is on the other end of that equation. But what is truly sad is how Romney cannot — no matter how liberal he really is (which is pretty liberal considering his past voting record and position on social issues, especially compared to Vice Presidential pick Paul Ryan) — disassociate himself from the Republican party which has, outwardly, held Romney hostage to the demands of the extremists in the party. Whether Romney likes it or not, Republicans treat women like slave owners treated their slaves before the Civil War.
There is nothing sad about the way that Obama’s campaign has been approaching the unpopular social issues that Republicans fight for. If anything, they have shown restraint and respect, while the Republicans restrict civil liberties, oppress voters, and try to prevent America from progressing. What is sad is that Republicans cling to hypocrisy while outwardly lying about their own positions. Their thinly-veiled scam to eliminate taxes on the super rich at the expense of the poor and the quality of our society should be thrown in their faces at every turn.
If only the Republicans would show a little bit of the respect to immigrants, the poor, women, minorities, the disabled, the middle class, workers, teachers, government employees, gay people, and intellectuals that the Obama campaign has shown to them. But of course they don’t, and never will. And that is what’s sad about our entire political culture.