NY Firefighter's Union Ad Against Giuliani Proves That "Swift Boating" Ads Will Again Prove To Be A Big Factor In 2008

In 2004, the success of the unusual attack ads on John Kerry by the "Swift Boat Veterans For Truth", which made a number of very vague, and often unfactual attacks, proved to be so successful, that it surely emerge again in 2008. A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that ended restrictions on many of these type of ads will also help.

A new ad by a NY Firefighters union atacking Rudolph Giuliani appears to be the first of a new generation of "Swift Boats" inspired ads designed to bring down a candidate. Probably decisions by Giuliani related to NY firefighter's wages, pensions and other matters probably inspired this more than anything. But it is an attempt to bring down Giuliani's "9/11 image" that his campaign has been grooming.

It is probably safe to say that the "Swift Boats" type ads will be a major factor in the 2008 election, and used by all sides thanks to the recent Supreme Court decision that has given these type of negative ads a clear green light to procede at full speed. Whether these ads really educate voters, or simply "tar and feather" unfairly politicians with vague, often false, smears, will also be highly open to debate as well.