Feeling Hyped

This post ties into my previous discussion about politics.  The one form of media that was the most upsetting was the campaign commercials for the 2008 Presidential Elections (or any other election, really).  I understand that when the competition gets close to the finish line, more extreme measures are taken to ensure votes.  Yet, why do the commercials turn into malicious bashing of the other candidate?

Since when should we as citizens care more about how well one can put down a candidate over what they stand for?  Can't we make the decision ourselves that someone may not be the best candidate without the constant influence of others?  Apparently not.

For instance, it irks me when the commercials become less on why we should vote for a candidate but why we should not vote for another.  It is just giving the other candidate more publicity.

In the case of the recent election, these commercials would attack issues that would not be all that important.  McCain would say Obama was inexperienced and a celebrity, while Obama said McCain was old and out of touch.  Even if all of that was "true" it really should not come into play.  But at the end of the campaign, they use any tactic, any measure, to sway the voters.  

Why is it so negative?  There is nothing wrong with comparing, but when does it get to be too much? This does not necessarily reflect my political views, but it seemed like McCain's party was way ahead on the negative messages than Obama's.  Now, was that because McCain was more experienced and knew the ropes or because Obama was less concerned with securing the votes?

Either way, it is not about what is bad about one party coming through the mouths of the opposite.  It is about what is good and what is, most importantly, relevant.  

The glass should be half full, but it never is when it comes to politics.  There is always something to complain about.