Would not the "winning at all costs" mentality in political campaigns violate Catholic Social Doctrine?

[Bartolome_Casas]

For example, suppose Candidate A promotes, or refuses to denounce when asked about them, plainly proven lies about Candidate B.

Say that fierce opponents of Candidate B have concocted a huge conspiracy theory about how Candidate B is not really an American citizen, or that Candidate B is secretly a follower of some anti-American religious creed. But suppose that all rational, sane people can see that neither of the claims are even a little bit true. Yes, suppose these claims are nevertheless growing in popularity because many people are afraid because the economy is deep decline and jobs are being lost and people are losing their homes and futures.

If Candidate A knows that these claims are plainly and fully false, yet decides to go along with these lies about Candidate B in order to win in a democratic election, would it not be the case that Candidate A is unworthy of Catholic’s vote, since he has aided and abetted a deliberate LIE, and since such lying is comparable to stealing and murder in its moral gravity, and since democracy cannot survive in a context win which candidates and parties simply will not acknowledge or tell the truth.

In such a case, would not Catholic be justified in organizing a “A Fortnight for Truth” campaign to prevent the stealing of an election by persons willing to promote Big Lies in order to win democratic elections?

 

[sedonaman]

For example, suppose Candidate A promotes, or refuses to denounce when asked about them, plainly proven lies about Candidate B.

Say that fierce opponents of Candidate B have concocted a huge conspiracy theory about how Candidate B is not really an American citizen, or that Candidate B is secretly a follower of some anti-American religious creed. But suppose that all rational, sane people can see that neither of the claims are even a little bit true. Yes, suppose these claims are nevertheless growing in popularity because many people are afraid because the economy is deep decline and jobs are being lost and people are losing their homes and futures.

If Candidate A knows that these claims are plainly and fully false, yet decides to go along with these lies about Candidate B in order to win in a democratic election, would it not be the case that Candidate A is unworthy of Catholic’s vote, since he has aided and abetted a deliberate LIE, and since such lying is comparable to stealing and murder in its moral gravity, and since democracy cannot survive in a context win which candidates and parties simply will not acknowledge or tell the truth.

In such a case, would not Catholic be justified in organizing a “A Fortnight for Truth” campaign to prevent the stealing of an election by persons willing to promote Big Lies in order to win democratic elections?

Good luck with that idea.

 

[sedonaman]

“Winning at all costs” is Machiavellian . Not exactly consistent with Catholic thought.

 

[Seeker1961]

Which is why it is so difficult for a devout Catholic to be heavily involved (like working) in American politics today. It’s gotten to be about winning for the sake of winning and not helping the people who are voting for you. It turn even the most well intentioned folks into cynics after a few years.

 

[Swiss_Guy]

Which is why it is so difficult for a devout Catholic to be heavily involved (like working) in American politics today. It’s gotten to be about winning for the sake of winning and not helping the people who are voting for you. It turn even the most well intentioned folks into cynics after a few years.

Which is exactly why I will never get involved in politics even though I find it interesting.