Negative political advertising

[pjohns]

There are some primaries underway in Tennessee--actually, they will be fully underway in November--and the various candidates are now advertising.

Most of the ads are very negative.

I simply cannot understand why most politicians wish to concentrate more upon causing others to dislike their opposition, rather than to concentrate upon the public's liking them.

Could it be because negative emotions are usually greater motivators than positive ones?

Or could it be because they believe that it is futile to try to make the public warm up to any politician?

Or perhaps both?

Or something else, altogether?

Some thoughts on the matter?

[Tahuyaman]

There are some primaries underway in Tennessee--actually, they will be fully underway in November--and the various candidates are now advertising.

Most of the ads are very negative.

I simply cannot understand why most politicians wish to concentrate more upon causing others to dislike their opposition, rather than to concentrate upon the public's liking them.

Could it be because negative emotions are usually greater motivators than positive ones?

Or could it be because they believe that it is futile to try to make the public warm up to any politician?

Or perhaps both?

Or something else, altogether?

Some thoughts on the matter?

Negative ads are effective. All politicians decry negative advertising, but they all use that strategy.

[Peter1469]

I think studies show they are effective.

[Tahuyaman]

I think studies show they are effective.

If they weren’t effective they would be rarely used.


It is funny how every politician claims to disapprove of negative ads and complains when they are a victim of these tactics, but they all employ the same tactics.


They thought we’d all be fooled by their newer scam rule of “I’m so and so and I approved this message.”

[RMNIXON]

I don't like soundbite political ads from either side. But they work because most people are emotional and uniformed.

[Tahuyaman]

I don’t see anything wrong with negative ads as long as the negative material is both relevant and factually correct.

[The Booman]

Negative ads work but right now the voters want answers and solutions to problems. The voters are tired and scared. They want to the candidates have a plan to fix this mess. That will go farther than negative ads.

[countryboy]

There are some primaries underway in Tennessee--actually, they will be fully underway in November--and the various candidates are now advertising.

Most of the ads are very negative.

I simply cannot understand why most politicians wish to concentrate more upon causing others to dislike their opposition, rather than to concentrate upon the public's liking them.

Could it be because negative emotions are usually greater motivators than positive ones?

Or could it be because they believe that it is futile to try to make the public warm up to any politician?

Or perhaps both?

Or something else, altogether?

Some thoughts on the matter?

For Democrats, what else do they possibly have to run on?

[donttread]

There are some primaries underway in Tennessee--actually, they will be fully underway in November--and the various candidates are now advertising.

Most of the ads are very negative.

I simply cannot understand why most politicians wish to concentrate more upon causing others to dislike their opposition, rather than to concentrate upon the public's liking them.

Could it be because negative emotions are usually greater motivators than positive ones?

Or could it be because they believe that it is futile to try to make the public warm up to any politician?

Or perhaps both?

Or something else, altogether?

Some thoughts on the matter?

Well the choice is probably to talk policy ideas, results in previous jobs/office. If you were most politicians would you want to have to try to sell years of doing nothing and blaming others for your inaction as a plus.?
Almost all of these pukes have failed miserably.

[Dr. Who]

Well the choice is probably to talk policy ideas, results in previous jobs/office. If you were most politicians would you want to have to try to sell years of doing nothing and blaming others for your inaction as a plus.?
Almost all of these pukes have failed miserably.

Exactly.