Where I Stand — Brian Greenspun: Dirty politics on rise

Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002 | 8:55 a.m.

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners. Thank you to those who didn't win.

That's what you are supposed to say after a hard-fought political campaign in this country. That's what you are supposed to say because people who offer themselves for public service deserve such civility from a public that will benefit from their efforts.

I know there are many people who can't quite buy that attitude because losing in politics today has become such a personal matter that we oftentimes forget what the race was about in the first place.

Attack ads have changed the very nature of elections and I don't think it has been for the better. For sure, if your candidate has won you can justify the personal attacks but, I suspect, if the candidates had given the voters enough credit for fair play and understanding, they could have won with positive campaigns, too.

It is the losses, though, that give me continued pause for concern because we are increasingly destroying people and families in our quest for victory. The only logical result is that the quantity of qualified people who choose to run diminishes over time and the resulting loss to government becomes obvious.

And just in case it isn't as obvious as it should be, let me suggest this: We the people have contracted amongst ourselves for a government of, by and for the people. When we don't think we are getting what we bargained for, we break that contract by breaking faith with our fellow citizens. We become petty. We become selfish. And we become so dispirited that instead of participating in the process -- which includes making ourselves aware of the issues and the candidates -- we move in the opposite direction. And, then, we get what others pay for!

In this most recent election, there is no question but that President George W. Bush carried the day both nationally and, by extension, in local races. He was tireless in his efforts and boundless in his energy and dedication to message. So much so that his candidates won.

And, now, it will be his opportunity to govern because the entire apparatus of government will be in his hands. The only thing I can think of that could be good about all this -- thinking selfishly of course -- is the repeal of the estate tax. That could save beaucoup dollars and years of aggravation and expense grappling with CPAs and tax lawyers.

As far as the Supreme Court, the blurring of the line between church and state, and the continued invasion of our homes by government and attorneys general, well, life could get difficult. But, this is what the public wants and our system dictates that that is what we shall get.

I do have one caveat, however, for our president. Early in his first term, President Bill Clinton had control of the legislative and executive branches of government and allowed himself to be captured by the far left of his party. The Democrats paid dearly for that betrayal in 1994 when the vast middle of American political thought railed against the lurch to the left.

If President Bush allows himself to be hijacked by the far right of his party he, too, could feel the wrath of the electorate. So, if he can govern wisely from somewhere near the middle, both he and the country could be winners. I wish him luck.

What I don't wish, however, is a repeat of some very disturbing activities that took place in this election that should cause each of us to consider the lengths to which civil society should go just to win an election.

The first had to do with an urgent call to a friend of mine to send five lawyers from his firm to the state of South Dakota. There was reason to believe that operatives from the Republican Party were going to make it difficult for Native Americans to vote on their reservations. As it turned out, that is exactly what happened, but the presence of the legal eagles prevented the intimidation suspected and, it appears, those votes were the margin of victory for the incumbent, Sen. Tim Johnson.

To be sure, such tactics could have been employed by the Democrats. But they weren't. If they had been, they would have been just as wrong.

The second matter concerned late-night phone calls and leaflets delivered to minority voters telling them that voting would take place a day or a week later than Nov. 5. It can be argued that people who don't even know when to vote shouldn't do so, but the fact that it was a planned attack on the right to vote made it reprehensible.

And, finally, the most egregious attack on our democratic system came in the form of advertisements calling into question the patriotism of Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia. I can question his intelligence because he voted to send nuclear waste to Nevada but I would never stoop so low as to impugn his love and dedication to this country. The Republicans did in a last minute smear campaign that most likely cost him re-election.

Oh, by the way, did I mention that Sen. Cleland lost two legs and an arm in Vietnam? And they questioned his patriotism?

Congratulations to those who ran and won and thank you to those who ran and lost. And shame on all those people who denigrated our democracy in the process.