There is a television commercial for Mountain Dew soda that depicts the famous 1858 political debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. In response to his opponent’s comments, Lincoln goads the crowd, tears off his coat and shirt and starts walloping Douglas, throwing him off the stage, then turns on debate officials, whacking them with chairs and generally doing his best Steve Austin impersonation.

This is a colorful Madison Avenue take on one of our country’s most studied and lofty series of political debates, far removed from the intelligence and civility of the reality.

As we veer toward one of the most exciting and important Toledo election in memory, it is sad to report that some are already taking the Mountain Dew approach to politics.

Opponents of Teamwork Toledo’s Kevin Milliken, a Toledo City Council candidate, sent an e-mail to local media July 14 (anonymous, of course) with nasty, personally disparaging comments and several pages of his divorce court proceedings. Those pages contained highly personal information on Milliken and his family that had little to do with his intended policies if elected.

Milliken said he suspects his opponents in the local Republican Party are behind the personal attack. That may never be proven, but the solution is simple. Lucas County Republican Party Chairman Jon Stainbrook and candidates, such as Jim Moody, Rob Ludeman and George Sarantou, to name just a few, should publicly condemn this act and separate themselves from these tactics. If these local candidates choose to remain silent and thereby consent to such strategies, a message will need to be sent, and there will be a simple and clear way for voters to express dissatisfaction: at the polls.

If these smear tactics continue, and if they are not rebuked, voters will be informed every step of the way, and will have an opportunity to reject such thug work in September and in November.

There are plenty of important issues to focus on as we look to move Toledo forward. Let’s hope the season is more influenced by Lincoln’s nobility than local foolishness.

Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Opinion, Publisher's Statement.
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