Helen on Elizabeth Dole

If you aren't reading Margaret and Helen, the political blog I mentioned in an earlier post, you should be. I am completely addicted, and love Helen's writing.
As I think most everyone has been, I was appalled by Elizabeth Dole's most recent political ad. I have to say--and this is a huge statement--this ad is the worst, most horrible attack ad I have ever seen produced in any race on the county, state or national level. I post it here, along with Campbell Brown's pointed (and excellent) commentary. This is a new low in politics--and that is a low place, my friends. If you are using Bill O'Reilly in your ads in a supposed effort to HELP you, I think that alone is a sad place to be. We need separation of church and state in the first place, but since that seems unlikely, hitting below the belt here in the very religious south is just dirty. Frankly, I don't want to hear ANYTHING about religion (or lack of) in ANY ads. I know that makes me a minority, but, oh well.
It looks like this is going to backfire on Dole, and I hope so. I will let Helen do the (rest of the) talking for me. This is her post about it:

Elizabeth Dole Just Started a Jihad

(Seven Posts in Seven Days - Day 6)

Now folks of all the things that have scared me this year in politics, one of the worst was learning that Sarah Palin declared the war in Iraq to be a task from God. Just do a little research on the history of religious wars and see how you feel about that. They tend to be long, bloody, and in every case, the biggest loser is God.

So I have spent more than a few hours writing about my less than warm feelings about Ms. Palin. But as of today the worst person in politcs is not Sarah Palin. It is Elizabeth Dole who ran an ad suggesting that her opponent is godless. Nevermind that her opponent, Kay Haggan, is a Sunday school teacher and an elder in her church. Nevermind that calling someone “Godless” leads to jets flying into skyscrapers. Nevermind any of that. Just follow this argument to its logical conclusion. Quick somebody, throw Haggan into a lake and see if she floats!

There is a reason that separation of church and state exists in the founding documents of our great nation. Our founding fathers were all too familiar with living in a world of religious prosecution just as much as they understood the ramifications of a government without religion. The solution is a government that allows both freedom for religion and freedom from religion. Smart bunch of guys those founding fathers.

A bit of history (I wasn’t there despite how old I seem to you): On September 17, 1787 the Constitutional Convention came to a close in the Assembly Room of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although seventy individuals were chosen to attend the meetings, ultimately only thirty-nine actually signed the Constitution. George Mason of Virginia, Edmund Randolph of Virginia, and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts refused to sign the final document primarily because they were fearful of an all-powerful government and wanted a bill of rights added to protect the rights of the people. We owe a great deal to these men.
But today, Elizabeth Dole has spit on all of their graves.

It’s not pretty, but it’s almost over. Go vote. Thanks for stopping by. I mean it. Really.