Few will argue that the current presidential campaign is anything but one of the least acceptable in recent history. The American people deserve better but seem too apathetic to demand it.
The following is a speech I think the President should consider making and soon if the rhetoric of the campaign is not to become even worse:
“Good evening to all Americans. My remarks tonight have important bearing on your decisions on Election Day in November…..not just with respect to who gets your vote, but whether you get the best the contenders for that vote can offer you in the campaign.
It’s regrettable that the rhetoric of this campaign is far below what you are entitled to expect. That can be said for both sides.
Frankly, I feel a sense of sadness that my opponent has been forced by the extreme elements of the Republican Party to make his commentary so very personal and often so unlike the man who was Governor of Massachusetts.
Mr. Romney is a fine family man who cares about ordinary people. Unfortunately, those around him and who are the major power brokers have pressured him to take a kind of attack that offers little for us to debate regarding solutions to the massive problems we face domestically and internationally.
Because of this, and just as unfortunately, I have found myself having to respond to some very personal attacks rather than competing with different solutions to those offered by Mr. Romney.
You deserve better from this campaign from both sides.
So my sincere comments tonight are not campaign rhetoric. Rather they are born of a deep hope for the kind of competition that speaks the language of statesmanship and concern for this nation we all love and for the people struggling so hard to stay afloat and survive.
Without question, my opponent and I may see differing paths to critically needed solutions or at least pathways to solutions … because, when this campaign is over, no matter who is the winner of your votes, it is imperative that the nation itself and all of you come away as winners.
My opponent and I will remain loyal Americans and will exchange promises of continued devotion to the welfare of all Americans.
So tonight, my profound hope is that our campaign discourse can be of the most civil kind, with the sincere knowledge that both Mr. Romney and I are committed to preserving and maintaining what the United States of America represents. In that spirit, I look forward to Mr. Romney’s similar statement of commitment, fully expecting he would agree.
Thank you and good night. God Bless America.”
Even if you do not expect that speech, it might be useful to communicate the idea en masse to your Congressional representatives and directly to both campaigns. As with chicken soup, it might not help, but it sure would not hurt.