Stop negative letters

We see it with every election cycle. Television ads smearing an opponent's character offer plenty of heat to a campaign but no light.

We cringe when we are subjected to them on the television hour after hour, night after night. Why, then, do writers of letters to the editor think we want to read the invective and character assassination from their pens?

Criticism of a candidate's character, particularly by that candidate's opponent or family member of the opponent, tells us nothing about why we should vote for the opponent. And when both sides engage in such attacks, we are convinced neither candidate is worthy of our vote and fail to cast an informed vote.

The attack ads from the 2004 presidential and Ohio Supreme Court elections were so severe, the Ohio General Assembly enacted laws to limit negative campaign ads. Candidates in Ohio are now required to approve and state that approval in any television or radio ad issued by their campaigns.

Perhaps a similar policy should be in place for letters to the editor. Any letter attacking the character of a candidate would require the approval in writing of that candidate's opponent.

We wouldn't want to implement that policy any more than the candidates would want to endorse letters smearing their opponents. Let's just stop the smear tactics voluntarily.