Campaign Rhetoric Takes the Low Road

Your Aug. 17 article about Sen. Tom Harkin’s comments about Bush/Cheney started with “Sen. Tom Harkin pushed the name-calling in the presidential race to a new level Monday.... “ If you meant by injecting the truth into the race, I agree. But you meant that he had lowered the level.

I don’t know why the media give this administration such a pass on its words and actions when Bush/Cheney drove the level of rhetoric in this campaign to the bottom a long time ago. In the same issue, you feature a long article about the ugliest smear campaign in memory attacking Sen. John F. Kerry’s distinguished war record. This administration has responded only that it has nothing to do with the smear.

President Bush and Vice President Cheney ran from service when Kerry served with distinction. Bush and Cheney sit in the security of their offices and talk tough with other people’s lives. They are without honor or shame.

Jeff Wood

Tustin