Get used to the squabbling between President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney.?The angry, accusatory tone of the campaign for the White House isn't going to change any time soon.
Both candidates have said as much, as they continue in their attack mode.?
Obama on Monday defended his campaign to this point, saying that he is simply pointing out differences between the two parties, while Romney has used ads that were "patently false." His ads thus far have not included anything that was "out of bounds," the president said. Romney said Monday that "the first victim of an Obama campaign is the truth," claiming that only one of the Democrats' ads has been "honest."
But one issue caught our attention Monday. Obama criticized Romney for not releasing more than two years' worth of his income tax returns, saying that those running for president should know their life is an "open book." That's laughable, considering the track record Obama has in not releasing personal information (need we bring up the birth certificate issue again?) and his overt failure to live up to his 2008 campaign promise to run an open administration.
Sadly, we don't expect much in the way of honest, stick-to-the-issues campaigning these days from those seeking the highest elected office in the country, and the candidates still normally underachieve.?It's unfortunate that no one is surprised or even shocked by campaigns full of personal attacks and questionable claims in advertising and speeches.
Meanwhile, the election draws closer every day, and many voters continue to struggle for find real answers to the important issues of the campaign. Hello, candidates. Remember us, the voters?