Dirty...'liberal'?

So with the non-presidential elections soon to take place, we have been privileged enough to witness the truly amazing phenomenon that is political advertising in the conservative Midwest. Politics in America, like at home, runs predominantly on scare campaigns, with a few particularly unique ‘Midwestern’ themes. For those who like me, never really knew where Indiana was, it is potentially one of the most land-locked states in America. With thousands of miles and multiple states separating the great land of Indiana and the Mexican border, you would think that illegal immigration would maybe take a back seat to more pressing local issues…nope. It is as if people here are convinced that every immigrant jumping the border has a map of the United States, with a big red circle around Indiana and dreams of cornfields and Steak’n’Shake…

Then there are the incredible television advertisements, including my favorite…the ‘dirty’ liberal. This ad identifies policy decisions of a particular candidate, with a similar soundtrack to that of Jaws playing in the background. Then, as the camera zooms out, and the viewers sense of dread is at its peak…the voiceover asks ‘What do all these decisions mean?’ By this stage you have reached such a paranoid frenzy that you are ready for anything…she is a Nazi sympathizer…she eats babies…she actually liked the fashion of the eighties…but no…she is a ‘liberal’… one of those dirty, left-wing hippy activists who supports gay marriage rights, greater tax relief for the poor and human rights for illegal immigrants…my god…what a monster!