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Go Home Now That's An Attack Ad

THE PLANK DECEMBER 10, 2007

Now That's An Attack Ad

BY AUTHOR INFO NEEDED

Via Ezra Klein and John Sides, here's a great antidote for anyone who thinks politics has gotten nastier over the centuries: a campaign ad based on pamphlet attacks against Thomas Jefferson during the 1800 election.

--Bradford Plumer

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8 comments

That's brilliant. A whole series of such ads, based on actual past campaigns, would be a great tool for middle school and high school civics classes. Assuming the public schools are still allowed to teach civics in the No Child era.

- rhubarbs

December 10, 2007 at 4:45pm

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what lies, Alexander Hamilton was not the Campaign chairman for Adams, Silas B. Rove was.

- blackton

December 10, 2007 at 5:35pm

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Rhubarbs, great idea. Esp if you slip into the mix a few of the more sinister ads from Rove and other Princes of Darkness of our own age

- teplukhin2you

December 10, 2007 at 5:46pm

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Middle school?  These ads belong on the History Channel.

- nbarry

December 10, 2007 at 6:20pm

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Middle school?  These ads belong on the History Channel.

- nbarry

December 10, 2007 at 6:20pm

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That was brilliant. Great fun.

- jobeek2

December 10, 2007 at 10:01pm

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Interesting timing.  I'm in the middle of reading (snatches at a time between other reading) about the exact era in France the ad refers to via David Bell's (a TNR contributor) so far excellent book, "The First Total War".  It's great reading.

- jet

December 10, 2007 at 10:39pm

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Just read about when Ike announced for prez, fellow Repug Robert Taft's people immediately floated rumors that Ike was a philanderer and Mamie was a lush.  And they were in the same party!  I'm shocked that we're shocked by today's muck.  Well, considering the nation of historically obtuse, media-driven drama queens we've become (the search continues for Mitt Romney's hidden wives), maybe I'm not.

- jm_rice

December 11, 2007 at 12:50am

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