Former GOP political consultant Frank Luntz says the state of American politics is seemingly at its worst, lamenting “how low we have sunk.” Luntz has thoughts about Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign ad against Amy Acton, which sparked major backlash after the details about the estranged mother-daughter relationship were uncovered. Critics accused Ramaswamy of trying to weaponize the childhood sexual abuse Acton suffered at the hands of her mother’s then-husband, forcing authorities to remove Acton from her mother’s care. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance are not in opposition to the ad.
In the wake of the drama, Luntz has some harsh words and a stark warning as it pertains to the recent events, despite being a reported long-time ally of the Republican Party. “There’s a reason why I’ve become so opposed to our election process as it currently stands,” Luntz wrote in a lengthy post to X.
What he does not understand is how degrading things have gotten, in his eyes and in the eyes of many. “It’s more than our ugly tone. It’s more than our disrespect of each other,” he writes. He says the strategy is more about slander than anything. “All the tools of electioneering are now being used to mislead rather than enlighten. They are being used to destroy rather than to build,” he continues in the post, before directly using the controversial ad as an example.
“The best example of this is the Ohio gubernatorial ad — I believe it will have an impact. In fact, I’m sure of it. But it’s a horrible example of how low we have sunk,” he notes. “When people ask me to analyze an ad, they’re not asking for my opinion. They’re asking me for the impact it will have on voters. And that’s exactly what I try to give them. This is different.”
He says he believes this ad represents an important shift in political history, one that will serve as a lesson for years to come. “I think this ad will be taught in schools for decades about just how toxic our politics have turned,” he added.
As his post makes the rounds, others are speaking out in agreement with him. “Thank you Frank Luntz for being a Republican with integrity. I appreciate you taking a stand for decency. The candidate who will do anything to acquire power, will be an office holder who will do anything to retain power,” Reverend Dr. Richard Lyon, psychotherapist and Presbyterian minister, commented.
The Brookings Institution’s Jessica Riedl commented, “I’ll add to Frank’s disgust with this: As a beltway policy geek & campaign veteran, I recommend assuming that every campaign ads’ characterization of an opponent’s policy views & past votes is totally false. Bc 90% of the time you’ll be proven right. They are meant to deceive.”