| Written by Maria Elena Salinas |
| Monday, November 01 2004 |
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| It's not necessary to count or even re-count votes to know that when all is said and done, there are clearly those who are winners in this year's general election and those with a big fat "L" on their foreheads. And we don't even have to include the candidates.
Let's start with the losers. It might have been a very profitable business for them, but those who produced political ads this campaign season have taken dirty politics to an all-time low.
Negative campaigning is not a novelty. But this year's ad campaign — filled with attacks, distortions, half-truths and some downright lies on both sides — left voters ill-informed. Instead of trying to figure out which of the major candidates had a better plan for the country, many voters felt that the choice was merely between the lesser of two evils.
The news media are certainly on the losing side. It is depressing to see what has happened to our profession. For years, the U.S. media had been an example of objective journalism, truly fair and balanced, free of the censorship or self-censorship that exists in so many countries around the world.
The war in Iraq and the presidential campaign changed that. Traditional balance and objectivity were sacrificed, out of fear of appearing unpatriotic, falling victim to unscrupulous sources trying to manipulate information, or simply letting partisan views seep through.
Never have the media been so politicized, blurring the lines between reporting and editorializing, affecting the credibility of even the most serious journalists and prestigious media organizations.
Pundits and so-called political analysts who became spin doctors and twisted the facts to benefit the candidate of their choice didn't do much service to an electorate that was depending on them to understand the complexities of the campaign. For that, they go on the losers' side.
And of course, there are those who decided not to cast a ballot. Voting is a right and a civic duty, but it's not obligatory in this country. Many of those who stay away from the polls do it out of apathy, laziness or the misguided belief that their vote won't matter. Others who are dissatisfied with the political climate simply choose not to vote in protest. It is their choice, but anyone who stays out of the political process loses the chance to make a difference.
Given this scenario, it's not hard to figure out who the biggest winners are in this election year: Clearly, they're the TV viewers and radio listeners who will not have to put up with the bombardment of political ads that have been poisoning the airwaves and confusing the voters. Can you imagine turning on your TV set and actually seeing wolves and ostriches on the Discovery Channel instead of political ads?
Those who contributed to the political awakening of the American electorate are winners. They include dozens of organizations, institutions and even rock stars and rappers who joined the political parties in promoting voter participation. As a result, more Hispanics, more blacks, more women and especially more young people have become aware of the importance of voting.
Now the hard part is trying to figure out if the voters are winners or losers. They obviously win for exercising their right to vote. But that same passion that brought people out to the polls even before Election Day might keep the country polarized and bitterly divided for the foreseeable future. And if that happens, we all lose. |
