afloweroutofstone:

1988 was fucked up.

• In the Democratic primary, Dukakis’ campaign leaked news that Joe Biden had stolen a speech from a British politician in the Labour Party, forcing him to drop out of the race (Dukakis fired the people who leaked it)
• At the DNC, Ann Richards said Bush Sr. “was born with a silver foot in his mouth” and Ted Kennedy said that he was a “dead duck”
• Bush won the Republican primary almost exclusively on his promise of “read my lips: no new taxes,” which we know now to have been a complete lie
• Bush repeatedly called Dukakis a “card-carrying member of the ACLU,” stealing the phrase “card-carrying member of the Communist Party” from the McCarthy era
• Bush repeatedly attacked Dukakis for his refusal to sign a bill requiring the Pledge of Allegiance be read in Massachusetts (the bill would have, as Dukakis later put it, threatened teachers with jail to do so)
• To make himself seem more strong militarily, Dukakis did a photo op where he rode around in a tank with a giant helmet on and looked absolutely ridiculous. The Bush campaign took that footage and turned it into one of the most famous and devastating campaign ads in the history of American presidential elections (two of the other most famous ads were also from this election, we’ll get to them later)
• When rumors circulated about Dukakis having a history of depression, President Reagan was asked about his unwillingness to release medical records, to which Reagan replied: “Look, I’m not going to pick on an invalid.“
• That rumor was supposedly spread by a guy on Bush’s campaign named Lee Atwater, one of the architects of modern Republican campaigning. He also supposedly spread another rumor, that Dukakis’ wife had burned a flag at an anti-Vietnam War rally, something she was forced to hold a press conferance to deny.
• The VP debate produced the most famous smackdown in American debate history
• Donna Brazile (the current DNC chair), who was on Dukakis’ campaign at the time, leaked a rumor that Bush was sleeping with an assistant (Dukakis fired her for it)
• Here’s where it gets really fucked up. Lee Atwater sneakily put out two more of the famous debate ads in America, famous specifically because of how low they go.
• The “Revolving Door” ad discussed the prison furlough program in Massachusetts, alleging that Dukakis would be responsible for similar programs as president that’d set prisoners free to commit violent crimes against Americans. But not just any prisoners, and not just any Americans- after you watch the ad the first time, watch it again. Pay attention to the section from 0:12-0:17. There is only one man in that entire line of prisoners who shifts his glance up to give the camera a menacing scare. What features do you notice about that man that no other man in scene shares? See where this is going? That was intentional.
• Here’s the big one. The infamous Willie Horton ad. The audience is introduced to Willie Horton, a scary-looking black man who we are told stabbed a little boy 19 times, then on a weekend pass, he kidnapped a couple, stabbed the man, and raped the woman. The ad ends by emphasizing that this is what Dukakis wants. When Roger Stone (the hardcore Republican mudslinger who most recently served as a Trump surrogate) saw this, he advised Atwater against putting it out. Atwater responded, “y’all pussy.” Atwater’s goal, in his words, was to make people “wonder whether Willie Horton is Dukakis’ running mate.” They mentioned him constantly, non-stop. They wanted the first thought to enter your head when you thought “Dukakis” to be a black rapist and murderer, threatening you and your white family. You want to know the kicker? “Willie” Horton’s name was William Horton. He had never, at any point, gone by the name Willie; his name was changed in the ad to make it sound stereotypically blacker and more dangerous
• The cherry on this brutal campaign was during a debate. The first question of the night was directed towards Dukakis: “Governor, if [your wife] Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?” The question itself was shocking and wildly unfair, but Dukakis’ response to it was a very calm, rational response. That cool-headedness in the face of just being asked about your wife being raped and murdered killed him, it made him look completely inhuman.

In the end, Dukakis won 111 electoral votes, and Bush won 426. It was one of the dirtiest elections we’ve ever had, and none of them have come close since until this year.

I was around and old enough to pay attention during that campaign, and the attacks were absolutely appalling at the time. Definitely outside the norm, with the Religious Right behind much of it. (Including pushing some ludicrous allegations.) The degree to which this happened was a relatively new thing, as they were gaining more political power.

Another pretty impressive part of that smear campaign (bolding added in the description):

“MAGICAL MIKE: The REAL Story of Mike Dukakis” (1988) by Dick Hafer

1988 comic book by Dick Hafer, endorsed by Jerry Falwell and Republican Party. Asserts to tell the ‘real story’ of Michael Dukakis, the 1988 Democratic nominee for president. Includes jabs at blacks, gays, women (including Dukakis’ wife) – also attacks the sick, the poor, foreigners, peacemakers, others, connecting Dukakis as the common link. Praised by Jerry Falwell, who urged his entire following to distribute the item. Also earned the support of the GOP, placing a copy of the comic under every seat at the 1988 Republican National Convention. Considered extremely influential in Dukakis’ loss to George H Bush. See news item directly below images for more information.