How to Sling Mud: A Guide for the Discerning Politician

There comes a time in any political campaign when high minded debates over the issues are no longer enough. It is time to start tearing down ones opponent, to spread unfounded rumors, and make outrageous accusations. It is time, in short, to sling mud.

It is true that we all say that we would like political campaigns to be like Lincoln and Douglas debating slavery or Kennedy and Nixon arguing over the Cold War. But there is nothing like a good old fashion mud fest to stir excitement and to get the juices flowing.

Shakespeare once wrote, "He who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing. 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him And makes me poor indeed." Of course in politics that is not necessarily true. Steal your opponent's good name, and you can be enriched by being elected to public office.

Mudslinging in political campaigns is as old as the United States. In the election of 1800, two of the greatest founding fathers, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson found themselves going toe to toe for the Presidency. Jefferson's campaign opined that Adams secretly wanted to make himself a King and lord it over the new American nation as a tyrant. Adams' supporters responded that Jefferson was a dangerous revolutionary and libertine who would bring chaos and license to the Republic. And what was this rumor about Sally Hemmings anyway? The two gentlemen didn't speak to one another for decades after Jefferson took the Presidency away from Adams.

Later, Andrew Jackson was accused of being a bigamist since apparently his wife at the time had not technically divorced her first husband. This calumny surely stuck in the craw of Old Hickory, who was accustomed to dueling over lesser points of honor.

Abraham Lincoln was accused of being a dunce and a monkey during the 1864 campaign. This started the fine tradition of Democrats casting aspersions on the intellect of Republicans which has continued for Reagan and George W. Bush.