By ROY PULLAM
I ask myself why politicians go negative in ads.
As much as I hate to admit it, I know the answer. A negative advertisement has the effect of undercutting the support of an opponent.
My dear friend Dorsey Ridley of Henderson told me he would not go negative in last year’s campaign. His advertisements pointed out his dreams for the commonwealth. He never let a bad word part his lips during the whole campaign.
He lost his state Senate seat to Robbie Mills. The votes that sunk him came from some of the counties away from Henderson County. They didn't know Dorsey and the vile campaign ads against him undid the good he achieved in nearly 20 years in office.
Not only does negative advertisement cost us talented people who are idealistic enough to avoid revolting tactics, it also reinforces an attitude that all candidates are corrupt. That might explain why less than 30 percent of Kentuckians voted in the primary. The keystone of this or any other democracy is the sacred nature of the vote. The justification often offered is that politicians are all the same. Nearly six months from the governor’s election, it makes me sick to see commercials paid for by groups outside of our state already pounding Andy Beshear. To Andy's credit, he has not gone negative.However, if he doesn't respond in kind, his chances of election grow less each day. Most voters are not aware of his pursuit of child predators, scammers that prey on seniors or hear of his efforts to get 2,000 rape kits examined and the guilty rapists prosecuted. What a shame. I would say we deserve better, but evidence to the contrary seems to prove me wrong. I want better; I expect better. I will not hold my nose and vote for someone who shovels barnyard stuff. I wish the electorate would follow my example, but based on the past, I do not expect any difference.