Every two years the American people steel themselves for another election cycle complete with dinner-interrupting campaign calls, a kaleidoscope of lawn signs and the endless political advertisements. 2010’s campaign season was no different. The one thing that set it apart is it shared the spotlight with a dawning realization that bullying is a significant and dangerous problem for American youth.

While I was reviewing my Google Reader feeds one day in late October something occurred to me. There is a strong connection between the political campaign and bullying. And it is this:

Politicians are bullies.

Consider this: if Billy repeatedly tells all the other kids in second grade that Johnny plays with dolls as a way to embarrass him we call Billy a bully. If Candidate Smith accuses Candidate Jones of being a tax evader, corporate puppet or terrorist as a way to dissuade you from voting for Candidate Jones we call that the six o’clock news.

Our politicians have a responsibility to help set the standard for acceptable behavior in our society. No, no, go ahead and laugh. I‘ll give you a minute to regain your composure.

I know it seems far-fetched. But the reality is they do. Even if they choose to ignore that responsibility routinely. And if they don’t meet that obligation and they continue to get re-elected, whom can we really blame?

But there is a consequence to this. If our children grow up seeing the men and women who are responsible for the future of our country attacking each other in print and on television how will they learn it isn’t ok to attack their classmates for differences of opinion? If they watch the news and see one adult stepping on another adult’s head because they are on opposite sides of an argument how will they learn they can’t punch people to get their way? How can we expect our children to understand the detrimental effects of bullying behavior when we engage in it ourselves?

Not all negative campaigning is initiated by the candidates. In fact much of it is not. Unfortunately many candidates tend to merely shuffle their feet and look guilty when others employ attack ads on their behalf. Not addressing such disrespectful behavior is akin to standing by while your schoolmates get beaten up on the playground.

Candidates for public office make the choice to place themselves under the microscope of public opinion. By doing so they become role models. Candidates for public office must recognize the importance of setting a good example. They must denounce attack ads and condemn those who use them. Our candidates must stand up to these political bullies and say strongly “My name is Candidate Smith and I do not endorse this message”.

Shannara Gillman lives in Bar Harbor, Maine. Her website is: http://gillmangirl.wordpress.com/