The Virtue of Smear Campaigning

With all the recent talk about negative campaigning this political season, Triya makes an observation I think many of us Americans overlook:

There is a lot more freedom in advertisements here in the US, which both sides have been using to the full extent. The ads have now moved away from actual political campaigning to smear campaigning. Both sides are trying their best to show the other in bad light, to the extent of personal attacks on preference for puppies and such. See the ads here and here. Turns out I am not the only one that thinks the personal attacks are not a very nice way to campaign.

However, even though they have taken it to such extent, I like the freedom they are given to campaign any way they want. I remember a few years back in India Complan had to remake its ad where it compared Horlicks and called it brand H. They had to call it brand X instead!! American ads can directly state the name and the features of the rival product. That is something I like!!

I do not like smear campaigning and negative advertising at all, but if that's the price we have to pay for our political freedoms, it is one I am gladly willing to bear.