It seem our gubernatorial candidates are eager to sling mud during this

campaign year.

While Charles Bishop already took that analogy to an extreme with his

"mudwrestling" television commercial, the Democratic candidate isn’t alone.

Republican candidates Bob Riley and Steve Windom both have tossed more than a

few barbs at each other, with their high-profile squabble earning a rebuke

from the state GOP leadership.

Now, Bishop is back in the ring, so to speak. The sitting Agriculture

Commissioner is running a television ad that mocks a newscast in which a

reporter is speculating if Gov. Don Siegelman will be indicted based on the

results of a joint federal and state investigation of the Siegelman

administration.

While we won’t know the results of the investigation for several months –

the Ethics Commission indicated Tuesday it will likely have a decision by

Sept. 1 – Bishop’s ad takes the case to the next level, and comes

dangerously close to some ethical lines.

We suspect Siegelman and Bishop will air their differences, and trade their

barbs, in high-profile style. And, while realize that all’s fair in love and

politics during an election year, we can’t help but be discouraged by the

continuing decline of issue-oriented campaigning.

Taxpayers and voters in Alabama deserve the candidates’ respect, and they

deserve campaigns that provide information and insight into a candidate’s

issues and stands.

Unfortunately, the only insight most of us will draw from the mudslinging

campaigns is the reassurance that we just can’t respect a politician and

hopeful leader who’s more concerned with slinging mud than addresses his

strengths.  

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