Barack Obama’s selection of Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate, this week’s DNC National Convention, and the Republican national convention the following week mean Nov. 4 — Election Day — is just around the corner. The campaign started rolling nearly two years ago. We are all ready for it to cross the finish line.

In the meantime, though, we can expect the campaign to move into high gear.  Among other qualifications, Democratic and Republican vice presidential choices are unabashedly referred to as “attack dogs.” Also, we have already been treated to a variety of attack ads from both sides, including one from the McCain camp that lumps “rock star” Obama in with celeb airheads, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

Obama’s ads repeatedly throw McCain in the bushes, if you know what I mean. The subtext of the candidate’s attack ads is that his opponent is old, out of touch, and the captive of powerful oil lobby and other corporate special interests. Bottom line, if you like attack ads, sharpen your knife and grab a fork. Whether you like it or not, I think we’re going to be in for a steady diet of this tried-and-true campaign spinach.

Over the last two presidential campaigns, at least two new words are likely to become permanent additions to the English language. The first is “Swiftboating.” The term, which is now in common use, mainly had its origins in attack ads claiming Sen. John Kerry, while commanding a Swift Boat during the war in Vietnam was neither hero nor patriot. Kerry, by the way, got three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and other commendations for his service.

Although the attack ad’s claims have largely been discredited, most pundits believe they were enough to cost the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, Kerry, the election. What is more, his opponent, George Bush, was able to use the swiftboat argument against Kerry to cast himself as a true war hero, although Bush was never in active duty in any branch of the Armed Services. The term has since been used in many cases to personally attack a person’s legitimate accomplishments. It might be ugly, but it works.

The other term — and I guess we have Mitt Romney to thank for this one — is flip-flopper. The term means that a person or political candidate constantly changes his or her position on an important subject, say, abortion or affirmative action. Barack Obama, because of his unusually long and nuanced interpretations of various issues and concerns, has been called a serial flip-flopper. 

What this really suggests is that, in politics, if you don’t speak in sound bites, or if you change your mind about some previously held position, you are unfit to lead. In short, it’s a personal attack and, fair or unfair, it works. Ask Mitt Romney.

One of the most interesting political tricks we have seen of late involves the thing called “spin.” That’s when you take one event or idea and turn it from an opponent’s advantage to your own. For example, the McCain camp has successfully labeled Barack Obama as an elitist — too well educated, too smart, and too popular. The attack works well with his camp’s claims that Obama does not have enough experience to be commander-in-chief.

Well, now. Here is McCain, the multimillionaire son and grandson of admirals with more houses than he can count, calling a guy who just paid off his student loans an elitist. Guess what? It doesn’t matter. I’d say the McCain camp largely has been successful in painting Obama as though he thinks he is somehow better than the rest of us. With attack ads and spin, it is not a matter of right or wrong; the only question is, does it work?

One might well argue that we have come a long way with this kind of political campaigning. To me, however, that is beside the point. As we watch more of the same in the coming weeks, I think most of us know that the real point is, not how far we have come with this nonsense, but how far can we go with it? Why, if we are not careful, we can reach sight of the finish line, only to find we have run out of gas.

Have a nice day! 

Primus Mootry is an Anderson resident and a high school teacher.