You know what sucks more than political ads? Nothing. Thank God we are nearly finished with this season’s batch of backbiting, mudslinging and mis- truth in advertising. Every time I turn on the tube I see another ad that stretches the truth or omits a detail, merely to gain a leg up on a political opponent. And as usual, Oregon’s election is packed with controversial measures backed on several sides by deep-pocketed out-of-towners.

To believe that anyone is telling the truth in a given campaign is like doing that falling-backwards-while-blindfolded thing with a bunch of stoners. Not sure if that metaphor works or not, but I digress. Look, I’m pretty apolitical but It chaps my hide to be repeatedly lied to. And from the political ads that are running right now, I really dont know what to believe or who to vote for. What I do know is if an advertiser pulled this kind of crap for cereal, diapers or tires, consumer groups and attorney generals would eat them alive.

Hmmm. That gives me an idea. Why don’t we punish the liars. Every time an inaccurate ad comes on, we fine the makers of that ad $10,000 and give the proceeds to charity. And every time a politician stretches the truth we wash his or her mouth out with soap on live TV. That would garner some serious pay-per-view and possibly straighten out some distortion. Want to see how truly inaccurate some of this year’s politics are? Go to politifact.com/oregon and wake me when it’s over.

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