Politics is not pretty. At its best, it is a policy of exaggerating your opponent’s weaknesses and misleading his or her positions and solutions regarding the issues facing our nation. At its worst, it is filled with vile personal and professional attacks, which often contain only a miniscule amount of truth.

I have been interested in our political system since the second Dwight D. Eisenhower election. As a freshman in high school, I was glued to my television set during the first presidential debates between John F. Kennedy, and Richard M. Nixon.

Elections remained somewhat civil until the 2000 Republican primaries. I supported the qualified and deserving Senator from Arizona, John McCain. When an ambitious and unskilled Governor of Texas, George W. Bush used smear tactics to attack the distinguished Senator and former POW, I was appalled. But it did educate me about the underlying evil of candidates who will do and say anything to obtain my vote.

Bush won the Republican nomination, and began a course which would make him the most hated man in America, and the worst president in American history.

His campaign slandered former Vice-President Al Gore, and was eventually given the election by a biased Supreme Court.

During Bush’s 2004 campaign for reelection, attacks on his opponent increased to an embarrassing level. Once again, facing John Kerry, who had also served his country admirably during the Vietnam War, he made false accusations and spent millions of dollars in advertising to slander his challenger. Questionable errors in Ohio related to voting machines manufactured by a Bush supporter once again gave Bush a victory.

In 2008 America knew that we were finally going to be released from the destructive Bush administration. Our nation was bankrupt, and thousands of our finest young men and women had been killed in the Middle East participating in an invasion which had no end, and no purpose.

The eventual challengers for the presidency became a young Senator from Illinois, Barrack Obama, and once again, John McCain.

If the election had been between these two men, and not experienced influence by other party members whose judgement was replaced by their ambitions, it may have been civil and a close contest.

Senator Obama had one difficulty to overcome; he was black. The right wing racists began to attack Mr. Obama on every front. But they soon realized that they were facing an uphill battle; public sentiment was on the side of the young Senator.

In a desperate move, the McCain campaign team convinced him to select an unknown, and inexperienced Governor from Alaska as his running mate. Enter Sarah Palin, and the political world has never been the same.

Initially her ‘folksy,’ and ‘cutsie’ style charmed some members of the GOP. As she was forced to answer questions from the media, it became obvious to all that not only was she unqualified to lead the free world if John McCain became unable, she lacked sufficient intelligence to represent our nation.

When Barrack Obama won his first election in 2008, a political underworld began the destruction of all respect and desire to work within our nation’s political system. Immediately after President Obama’s inauguration, Senate Minority Leader promised Republicans that nothing would be accomplished in the Senate; they had but one goal; to make Barrack Obama a ‘one-term’ president.

Our government began its destruction, fueled by the Republicans in Congress. Enter the TEA Party in 2010. They promised their owners that there would be no deliberation on issues and never would compromise be considered.

This has been the basic order of business, even after the President won a second term in 2012.

This brings us to today.

The major reason that this is the ugliest and most embarrassing campaign season in history is the obvious intent of the media to focus on sensationalism and misdirection to satisfy advertisers.

Donald Trump immediately received five-times more coverage by the press and television than any other candidate. Racists, bigots, homophobes, and misogynists all found a man who spoke for them. There were no negative consequences for Trump, even when he called all Hispanics ‘rapists and murderers,’ or when he sought to ignore the Constitution by suggesting the banning of all Muslims entering our nation. His vile attacks against his opponents on both sides of the aisle failed to change the opinion of his supporters.

Eleven ‘debates’ witnessed the other GOP candidates following Trump’s lead. There was no substance, only vicious attacks on each other including the ‘size of Trump’s manhood,’ and allegations of lies, personal finances, and work ethic by others.

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were not excluded from Republican attacks. Hillary was labeled a criminal, and Bernie a ‘communist.’ Never mentioned was that both Democratic candidates constantly offered solutions to our nation’s problems; subjects which were entirely ignored by Republicans.

So here we are. Trump has become our nation’s greatest embarrassment, and is the symbol of a fractured party. He will likely amass the 1237 delegates needed to obtain the Republican nomination, but the question is, will they give it to him?

Anger, hatred, and prejudice are the driving forces in the GOP campaign season. They are left with two possibilities; Trump or TEA Party extremist and leader, Ted Cruz, who is disrespected by the Republican establishment.

This is one time I really mean it: “God Bless America;” we need all the help we can get.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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