Negative Attention

The article I found online talks about how the presidential candidates are negatively discussing one another's actions to get ahead in the election. This ties back to discussions we have had about times of peril and blaming others for things that occur or will occur in the future. The article says that Obama and McCain will take negativity to a whole new level because of the current economic crisis we're in and how unstable society is. Each presidential candidate is placing a form of blame on the other, saying that they are incapable of running the United States and their policies wont work. The article states that, "The Obama campaign on monday released a documentary that tries to draw a parallel between McCain's involvement in the "Keating Five"scandal and the current economic crisis." McCain tries something similar, "raising questions about Obama's ties with Bill Ayers, a founding member of the radical Weather Underground." Both Obama and McCain are attempting to win over the independent voters by talking negatively about one another. It is a last-ditch effort to win over the hearts of those who don't identify with a party. Because of the economy right now and the recession that has plagued America, independent voters as well as both parties are looking for a strong leader to tell them that their strategy will work and, obviously, the other sides wont. People want answers to healthcare, taxes, global warming and every other issue in society and they want the peril to end. The presidential candidates want their strategy implemented, and for right now, they will go to great lengths to win and get this country out of peril the way they think will be effective.

In the presidential debate on october 15, the candidates were asked to address how negative advertising has effected their runnings and what has happened in terms of consequences to the negative words. Obama and McCain both admitted that come of their campaign advertisements have been negative, but both tried to point the finger as to which was worse and who defended who when allegations were made against one another. McCain was a bit more adimit about the fact that he refuted negative comments toward Obama and that when the situation came for Obama to do the same he did not. Either way, negative and sometimes false comments in advertisements and speeches toward each candidate has affected this election immensly and many Americans are looking to see which candidate will get the job done, even if that means factoring in the "cons" of each presidential candidate.

Realist Vs. Idealist: Our unit 3 topic

http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2008-06/2008-06-13-voa21.cfm?CFID=52835255&CFTOKEN=63811867

In this article, McCain is documented to have said that he is a "realistic idealist"on U.S. Foreign Policy goals. Because he was a POW he thinks that national security is the most important thing. "We cannot wish the world to be a better place than it is. We have enemies for whom no attack is too cruel, and no innocent life safe and who would, if they could, strike us with the world's most terrible weapons." This realist comment, however he also says that he wants there to be positive change and hopes that can happen. Connecting to the negative comment post, I think that McCain is a realist in that he can point out flaws in the opposition and actively speak negatively. He knows wartime and being in the army, and this gives him a realistic approach of whats going on in Iraq right now. However, he could be an idealist in that he wants to keep troops in Iraq. This is idealistic because it shows that McCain has hope that if we keep troops in, we will win the war on terror. I havent fully educated myself on this presidential debate, though I have seen all the televised debates, and this statement that McCain proclaimed himself a "realistic idealist" connects very well to what our new unit is all about. It is also interesting to attempt to weigh pragmatic and idealistic points and claims that Obama and McCain make. Trying to see which is more a certain way is a good way to take in all points each is trying to make. To be president, you have to be be able to think logically and realistically while still having hope for the future, and McCain wanted to prove he was both.