news analysis: Attack Mode

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Soft money and voter apathy are under fire in election 2000
Smear campaigns are an American tradition. From George Washington to Bill Clinton, nasty tactics and scandal have accompanied almost every presidential election. Pundits have long complained that ads corrupt elections and keep voters away. Politicians agree, but do nothing to stop the smarmy process. Why? Because as George Bush’s nefarious 1988 Willie Horton ad proved, negative advertising works.
But negativity is pricey.
The mother’s milk of attack ads is money, and there are two kinds: “soft money”–the unlimited contributions corporations, unions and wealthy donors can give political parties; and “hard money”– direct contributions to candidates, which have limitations under campaign finance laws.





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