Photo of the Day

Still true.

‘Lyin’ Kamala is a far-left bum.’

‘Donald Trump is a perpetrator. I know his type.’

Candidate positions on issues — immigration, abortion, Supreme Court reform — just don’t pack the same punch as a snazzy attack line.

Rally-goers want to taunt and snicker.

And nothing works better than a personal attack.

Congressman Abraham Lincoln in 1848.

People were no different 176 years ago, when Congressman Abraham Lincoln rose on this date in 1848 to address the House of Representatives on the coming presidential election.

Gen. Taylor, engaged in the Battle of Buena Vista, is depicted on the left, mounted on the horse.

His party had nominated Gen. Zachary Taylor, a hero of the Mexican-American War, as their candidate.

Political poster from the 1856 election criticizes the Democratic Party’s support of popular sovereignty.

The opposition had nominated Michigan Senator Lewis Cass, an advocate of popular sovereignty, who believed each state should be allowed to decide whether to permit slavery within their state.

The extension of slavery into new lands had resurfaced as a volatile political issue with the conclusion of the Mexican-American War which had brought extensive new territory into the nation.

But there were factions on both sides of the issue within each party.

So, in the 1848 election, party platforms were silent on the matter to preserve party unity.

And the race was fought with personal attacks.

Zachary Taylor (1784-1850)

Taylor, the Whig candidate, nicknamed “Old Rough and Ready,” was called vulgar, uneducated, cruel and greedy.

Lewis Cass (1782-1866)

Cass, the Democrat, nicknamed “General Gas,” was called corrupt and dishonest and depicted as a virtual war machine.

Cass

One of the most effective personal attacks in the 1848 race was the one Lincoln made in his speech in Congress.

1906 illustration depicting Lincoln and other Congressmen at the dining table of Mrs. Spriggs, who ran the boarding house where they stayed while Congress was in session.

Lincoln didn’t trash the opposition candidate.

Instead, he poked fun at those who supported him.

The US Capitol Building in 1848.

“Have no fears, gentlemen, of your candidate.

“He exactly suits you, and we congratulate you upon it.

“However much you may be distressed about our candidate, you have all cause to be contented and happy with your own.

“If elected, [your candidate] may not maintain all, or even any of his positions previously taken;

“[B]ut he will be sure to do whatever the party exigency, for the time being, may require;

“[A]nd that is precisely what you want.”

Lincoln’s barbs reminded people that their support of a candidate reflected their own values, or lack of them.

And it’s still true.

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I’ll see you on Monday.

— Brenda