George Bush had lots of people to thank for knocking out Michael Dukakis. Willie Horton is high on that list. This ad so polarized voters, there was no coming back from it. Is it fair? Not entirely. Then again, playing fair hasn't been part of politics for longer than I can remember. And, for at least that long the lines have been drawn: Republicans promise tougher punishment, Democrats promote rehabilitation. When Willie Horton hit headlines, the choice seemed obvious. 

It was my first election. And, I voted for this guy. Anyone who knows me would demand proof. But, listen to his message. Carter was beta testing messaging that would play in liberal politics right through last November’s election. And, when they stay on message, look how many people drove this message all the way to Pennsylvania Avenue.

He stood against integration and busing and anything that broke down the walls separating the equal and the “more equal than.” Democratic governer George Wallace was up front with who he was and what he meant. The business end of a bullet took him down, but not out; shifting values and progress finished the job.
Wallace’s core themes make this ad interesting viewing. Does he sound like a Dem to you? Back then he did….

The happy warrior, Hubert Humphrey paid the price for doing the right thing. He stood by his principles, though he knew them unpopular. Weeks before the election, he must have taken a slip of "wake the hell up" and realized he was in a popularity contest. He shifted his stance, but it was too late. In those days the news cycle was measured in days and hours, not minutes and seconds like today.  His campaign was honorable and he stands as a giant of the old guard who put their own ambition second to what is best for America.