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# Down and Dirty : From Tennessee to Armageddon
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/18717/
- Published: 2006-11-02T17:11:00.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:35:29.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:23

**By Tan Copsey**  

As the midterm elections approach in the US, both sides have been getting increasing desperate and resorting to the last thing they wanted to do. With a great sadness in their hearts, the two major parties are getting dirty. I an referring to negative campaign ads – they’re un-American right, and most recently Republicans have been indulging themselves in a little bit of [smut-peddling race-baiting](http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2006/10/gop-aims-sleazy-blonde-bimbo-ad-at.html?ref=opendemocracy.net).   
  
One can’t help but hark back to those golden days when [things were better right](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbdzMLk9wHQ&mode=related&search=&ref=opendemocracy.net). Well as it happens there are all too obvious parallels you can draw between [current Republican ads](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av-bJn6%5FXQY&mode=related&search=&ref=opendemocracy.net), and a certain [Democrat ad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND3FdwXgRSg&mode=related&search=&ref=opendemocracy.net) of forty-odd years ago. Democrats however seem to have lost their mojo when it comes to getting dirty, although they can at least [carry a tune](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NiJdxEJzk0&ref=opendemocracy.net). Instead getting Michael J. Fox to shake a little, whilst obviously not dirty per se, is at least [slightly manipulative](http://blognonymous.com/2006/10/more-political-ads-like-this-please.html%29?ref=opendemocracy.net).  
  
The funny thing is these ads aren’t really that dirty, not compared to those other wonderful moments in US political history.

From [Swift boats](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbTyEPZBUQY&mode=related&search=&ref=opendemocracy.net) to [windsurfing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbdzMLk9wHQ&mode=related&search=&ref=opendemocracy.net), insinuating that your opponent is a [corrupt gay hairdresser](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbIkquKV0Zs&NR&ref=opendemocracy.net), to all but calling the other guy a [serial-rapist](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIbSUddHzog&ref=opendemocracy.net), this campaign still has a long way to go. So ignore nay-sayers who say it can’t get dirtier. It surely can and will. And those not awfully affected by the corrupt ineffectual government that results, can laugh ironically at clips on youtube. Anyway no-one else knows how to make a [proper campaign ad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3TQdLgV3uI&ref=opendemocracy.net). God bless America!