[Editorial] Political Mudslinging

The ruling Uri Party stepped up their criticism Tuesday on Lee Myung-bak, a former Seoul mayor whose popularity is strongest among presidential hopefuls. The leadership of the party produced a picture dubbed, “People who love Park Chung-hee’s appearance.” The picture shows Lee wearing sunglasses. In fact, Uri chairman Kim Geun-tae, floor leader Kim Han-gill and former chairman Moon Hee-sang are also shown on the picture with a broad smile on their face. “Lee Myung-bak has been counting on a Park Chung-hee syndrome. Lee even argued that a Grand Canal would serve as the 21st century Gyeongbu Highway while wearing sunglasses at deceased Park’s birthplace,” said Min Byung-doo, chief of the Uri Party’s public relations committee.

The people of the Uri Party fabricated and enjoyed the outcomes of three major political scandals during the 2002 presidential elections: evasion of military service by Grand National Party (GNP) chairman Lee Hee-chang’s son, a 200,000 dollar kickback to former chairman Lee’s confidant, and Lee’s wife’s receiving lobby funds from a construction company. Uri Party officials seem to be tempted to make similar false accusations again as the presidential election is only one year away.

“From now on, we will verify the competence of presidential hopefuls of the GNP one by one each week,” Min added. However, if the Uri Party tried to pay careful attention to the hardship of working class citizens every week, their approval ratings would not have plunged to 9.4 percent. The approval rates of presidential hopefuls of the Uri Party are shamefully merely one, two and three percent, respectively.

The lawmakers of the Uri Party, who have again launched a negative political campaign, appear to be unafraid of the people and history. It is because none were held responsible for all the falsely alleged political maneuvers. Although the court ruled that the three political scandals were all manipulated, not only President Roh Moo-hyun, but many other related lawmakers of the Uri Party have made an apology. The public also did not take it seriously. Surprisingly, figures responsible for fabricating the scandals have secured key government posts. The incumbent administration which strongly condemns opportunists is full of opportunists. If President Roh has the will to make a society where justice prevails, he should take at least a few percent of the budget allocated for committees on investigating the past and use that to disclose recent, dirty election history.

Negative campaign strategies should be punished by voters. Politicians should also make a system that punishes those who make groundless political accusations. Smear campaigns which subvert the rule of game is the main enemy of democracy.