Sturm: The fevered political plague
[ASPENTIMES] It's been an October of surprises. As U.S. health officials' mistake-riddled handling of the deadly Ebola virus topped newscasts, the Denver Post editorial board captured headlines for its denunciation of Sen. Mark Udall's campaign tactics, helping subdue the fevered politics that's plagued us.
Insisting that Udall -- dubbed "Mark Uterus" -- Think Again about his fixation on gynecological issues while "a great deal is at stake," the Post's endorsement of challenger Cory Gardner injected truth serum into a poisonously dishonest election season.
Noting Udall's lack of leadership in Washington and his "obnoxious one-issue campaign" in Colorado, the Post contends that "Udall is trying to frighten voters rather than inspire them with a hopeful vision." As if inoculating himself from scrutiny, the Post notes, Udall has spent a "shocking amount of energy and money ... to convince voters that Gardner seeks to outlaw birth control despite the congressman's call for over-the-counter sales of contraceptives."
The Post's rebuke may not be a cure-all for mindless and dispiriting "War on Women" sloganeering, but it's healthy if it incentivizes politicians such as Udall to address constituents' real preoccupations and priorities.
Posted by: Fred 2014-10-24 |