That most dismal season is upon us. Election advertising season. If you watch that advertising closely without becoming physically ill, you notice that candidates for national office have to identify themselves by name and declare “I approve this message.” That’s because some years ago a federal Stand by Your Ad law was made requiring that identification and declaration.
This law is hardly the only reason most of today’s politicians are so tolerant of the vast array of front groups and dark money operations that dot the American political landscape, but it is a significant factor. Considering the content of the average political ad, it’s no wonder politicians prefer that surrogates spew the bile about their opponents while they stand by marginally less vile ads sponsored by their own campaigns.
Sadly, even the candidate-sponsored ads are routinely misleading, often downright dishonest, occasionally positive, usually negative, rarely uplifting, typically dispiriting. Most of these politi…
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