I’ve watched a lot of political races and I’ve observed many contests turn negative.
Thankfully, we don’t see an enormous amount of nasty, negative campaigning in Utah, mostly because our races are usually so lopsided in favor or Republicans that negative campaigning wouldn’t make much difference.
If Utah was more of a swing state, we’d see a lot more negative campaigning here. As it is, most of the nasty stuff occurs when national groups come in and attack a candidate.
This year, however, the 4th Congressional District race has become uncharacteristically ugly. Mia Love and Ben McAdams, who were supposedly friends a short time ago, are both slinging manure at each other with reckless abandon. The outside groups have added to the stink, but Love and McAdams were already deep in the septic tank before national groups weighed in.
To me, this is very disappointing. It illustrates the depths to which ostensibly good people will sink to gain or hang on to political power.
I know both Love and McAdams. I had thought of both of them as very nice people. Neither would ever kick a dog or butt in line at the grocery store. Meet them on the street, you would think they are among the most pleasant people you’ve ever met. Both appear to be kind and polite. Their mothers taught them that if you can’t find something nice to say about someone, don’t say anything at all.
So much for mother’s advice. Here they are, casting aspersions, distorting records, playing fast and loose with the facts, attacking not just the policies, but the very character of their opponent. The race has become very mean, very personal.
It is remarkable what political ambition will do to normally fair and honest people.
I’m not sure how a campaign evolves into character assassination. I assume Love and McAdams didn’t start off expecting that they would have to get into the gutter. Perhaps it was a gradual thing that escalated out of control as they realized that winning would demand that they match insult with insult and distortion with distortion.
And then the national PACs got involved and there was no going back.
Whoever wins on Nov. 6, he or she will revert to overt niceness, try to unify voters, vow to serve all constituents, and distance himself or herself from the nastiness of the campaign.
But I don’t think it will ever be niceness as usual. In my eyes, McAdams will never again be a Boy Scout politician. In the future, he won’t sneak up on any opponent who expects him to play nice. Love has shown she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her seat in Congress.
Up to this campaign, McAdams and Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox were considered to be the nicest guys in Utah politics. Now, Cox alone holds that title. And, if Cox and McAdams ever square off in a political contest, Cox had better be contemplating a very nasty race.
