Thank you for your analysis. Again, these Republican underhanded behaviors give us a view of what we have to look forward to should they continue to be in power. Vote, and vote Blue.
Once again Mr. Dickerson thoughtfully dissects the damage and consequences of this disgusting ad. Trump and Vance supporting its airing is, unfortunately, not surprising. Everyone should be outraged, regardless of party affiliation.
This is, as per usual for Dickerson, a terrific piece. But one does despair over how difficult it is to spread such analyses beyond those who have the interest to read a thoughtful critique of anything. Particularly an analysis that relies on and hews to what used to be common values and known, easily confirmed (not false) facts and human history.
Thank you! The true Republicans are dirty rotten politicians up to no good instead of working for the people whose house they occupy! Clean the slate this year and in 2 years to get honest good representation who work for the people of the USA!
This whole mess was offensive to people regardless of party. I am still holding that there are Republicans that are against this type of behavior. I just pray they show themselves in this coming election.
Thoughtful analysis of a political ad that reaches a disturbing low (at least in my lifetime) for our democratic process. Although somewhat less base in detail, the current theme in Republican political ads airing (and at the local level via mail fliers) in the northwestern US is inflammatory (to the target population) statements about the opponent. Perhaps more significant is the notable absence of proposals for public health or economic good. Democracy is a participatory sport - please VOTE.
Thank you for your necessary analysis. Viewing the ad generates instant revulsion amongst reasonable people, yet the other aspects of the ad and the responses to the ad tell us something about how far we have fallen. Yes, any testimony from someone who last saw a person decades ago when that person was 12 would be laughed out of court. Does a candidate need to worry that someday that childhood friend who saw him accidentally break a neighbor’s window with a baseball in 6th grade is going tell the press?
That Ramaswamy, Vance, and Trump are all defending the ad and critical of Republicans who declare the ad to be inappropriate demonstrates they are all in lockstep, throwing away morals and ethics for the Republican cause. Yet they do not seem to consider risks of this strategy beyond the immediate criticisms they simply laugh off. We really do not have good statistics on the percentage of children who have been sexually assaulted because many cases, especially assaults by family members, are never reported. A brief search shows an estimated 25% of women under 17 have been sexually assaulted (National Sexual Assault Violence Center). In the field of gastroenterology an association between irritable bowel and prior sexual assault is well documented. In treating a large number of women with IBS over many years I was surprised how many eventually volunteered that as children or teens they had been the victim of an assault or frequently repeated assaults they never reported. With so many women either having been victims of sexual assaults or having friends who were victims I suspect the ad in question is going to cost Ramaswamy the votes of many women who may have been for him or undecided.
Thank you, John. You've offered yet another brilliant assessment of something that shouldn't need to be examined (though it clearly does) because it shouldn't be part of the political conversation (though it unfortunately is.) Hoc quoque transibit... just not soon enough.
The police arrested this man for raping not only his stepdaughter but also raping his own daughter. Ms Acton’s parent is not her parent at all she was looking for money and she must have gotten something at some point. The courts charging this man not once but twice show that they had enough evidence to bring about charges. Ms Acton was a 12-year-old child. This person who allowed this ad to be used is a horrible human being. He is obviously so desperate to be elected that he would use anything to discredit his opponent by using something so sickening and not thinking this was wrong is absolutely disgusting. If anything the people of Ohio who still vote for the candidate of the Republican Party it shows that the morality of these people would probably not believe their family members or friends who have had this happen to them. When a candidate goes to extreme lengths to drag someone’s reputation through the mud, it makes me question their ability to serve the people of the state of Ohio as their governor. The fact that your president backs this man should show you why trump is unfit to be president also.
Thank you for your analysis. Again, these Republican underhanded behaviors give us a view of what we have to look forward to should they continue to be in power. Vote, and vote Blue.
Once again Mr. Dickerson thoughtfully dissects the damage and consequences of this disgusting ad. Trump and Vance supporting its airing is, unfortunately, not surprising. Everyone should be outraged, regardless of party affiliation.
Thank you John. Excellent reporting.
Thanks, John! Vile. Release the Epstein Files. Vote Blue. Stop these MAGA creatures in their tracks
This is, as per usual for Dickerson, a terrific piece. But one does despair over how difficult it is to spread such analyses beyond those who have the interest to read a thoughtful critique of anything. Particularly an analysis that relies on and hews to what used to be common values and known, easily confirmed (not false) facts and human history.
Thank you! The true Republicans are dirty rotten politicians up to no good instead of working for the people whose house they occupy! Clean the slate this year and in 2 years to get honest good representation who work for the people of the USA!
This whole mess was offensive to people regardless of party. I am still holding that there are Republicans that are against this type of behavior. I just pray they show themselves in this coming election.
Thoughtful analysis of a political ad that reaches a disturbing low (at least in my lifetime) for our democratic process. Although somewhat less base in detail, the current theme in Republican political ads airing (and at the local level via mail fliers) in the northwestern US is inflammatory (to the target population) statements about the opponent. Perhaps more significant is the notable absence of proposals for public health or economic good. Democracy is a participatory sport - please VOTE.
Thank you for this as always.
Thank you for your necessary analysis. Viewing the ad generates instant revulsion amongst reasonable people, yet the other aspects of the ad and the responses to the ad tell us something about how far we have fallen. Yes, any testimony from someone who last saw a person decades ago when that person was 12 would be laughed out of court. Does a candidate need to worry that someday that childhood friend who saw him accidentally break a neighbor’s window with a baseball in 6th grade is going tell the press?
That Ramaswamy, Vance, and Trump are all defending the ad and critical of Republicans who declare the ad to be inappropriate demonstrates they are all in lockstep, throwing away morals and ethics for the Republican cause. Yet they do not seem to consider risks of this strategy beyond the immediate criticisms they simply laugh off. We really do not have good statistics on the percentage of children who have been sexually assaulted because many cases, especially assaults by family members, are never reported. A brief search shows an estimated 25% of women under 17 have been sexually assaulted (National Sexual Assault Violence Center). In the field of gastroenterology an association between irritable bowel and prior sexual assault is well documented. In treating a large number of women with IBS over many years I was surprised how many eventually volunteered that as children or teens they had been the victim of an assault or frequently repeated assaults they never reported. With so many women either having been victims of sexual assaults or having friends who were victims I suspect the ad in question is going to cost Ramaswamy the votes of many women who may have been for him or undecided.
Thank you, John. You've offered yet another brilliant assessment of something that shouldn't need to be examined (though it clearly does) because it shouldn't be part of the political conversation (though it unfortunately is.) Hoc quoque transibit... just not soon enough.
The police arrested this man for raping not only his stepdaughter but also raping his own daughter. Ms Acton’s parent is not her parent at all she was looking for money and she must have gotten something at some point. The courts charging this man not once but twice show that they had enough evidence to bring about charges. Ms Acton was a 12-year-old child. This person who allowed this ad to be used is a horrible human being. He is obviously so desperate to be elected that he would use anything to discredit his opponent by using something so sickening and not thinking this was wrong is absolutely disgusting. If anything the people of Ohio who still vote for the candidate of the Republican Party it shows that the morality of these people would probably not believe their family members or friends who have had this happen to them. When a candidate goes to extreme lengths to drag someone’s reputation through the mud, it makes me question their ability to serve the people of the state of Ohio as their governor. The fact that your president backs this man should show you why trump is unfit to be president also.