By James P. Economos, DDS & Opinion Contributor
You may have seen or heard about a recent political ad from Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, in which three individuals repeatedly shout, “F*** Trump.”
It’s difficult to overstate how vulgar and low-class this display is. Unfortunately, it appears to reflect the tone that some political campaigns now believe will resonate with voters.
Former President George W. Bush once warned about the dangers of what he called the “soft bigotry of low expectations.” Ads like this seem to reflect exactly that mindset. Rather than elevating public discourse, they drag it down to its lowest level.
To be clear, political speech often enjoys broader protections under federal communications law. While the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) places restrictions on indecent language in broadcast media, political advertising is afforded greater latitude because of the constitutional protections surrounding political speech.
That reality means voters are sometimes exposed to messaging that would otherwise be considered unacceptable in most public settings.
Still, legality does not equal leadership.
Public officials — especially those seeking higher office — should aspire to set a better example. Campaigns should be about ideas, policies, and vision for the future, not profanity-laced slogans designed to generate viral attention.
Leaders are supposed to be role models. When vulgarity and shock value become substitutes for substance, it sends the wrong message — particularly to younger generations who are watching how those in power behave.
If this is the tone that will define the Illinois Democratic Senate race, voters should ask themselves a simple question: Is this really the level of leadership we want representing our state?
Because when public discourse sinks this low, it should surprise no one if our politics — and our communities — fail to rise any higher.
