“Comrade Kamala,” “crazy,” “dumb as a rock,” “low IQ”—Vice President Kamala Harris has faced relentless attacks in her run for the White House. Former President Donald Trump, too, has been labeled a “fascist,” a “disgrace,” “dangerous,” a “clown” and “unfit for office.” As our nation watches this week as our election season comes to a close (we hope), we have to ask ourselves: when did dehumanizing language become part of the bid for the highest office in the land?
Once, debates centered around policy and vision. Now, campaigns resemble playground fights. The term “race to the bottom” feels painfully accurate. When did basic respect in our political discourse get replaced with, well, garbage?
Vitriol has always existed—Andrew Jackson faced mudslinging in his day, and Alexander Hamilton died in a duel with Aaron Burr over personal grievances. But today, the 24/7 news cycle and social media amplify every insult and jab. The constant stream of sensationalism magnifies every utterance, creating an atmosphere devoid of respectful dialogue.
And it’s not only the United States that’s facing this challenge. In the UK, for instance, fierce clashes between political rivals sometimes lead to physical altercations in Parliament. But in America, the hostility among presidential candidates feels unprecedented, diminishing a role once associated with dignity and respect.
Can this trend be reversed? History offers examples of fierce rivals who maintained respect. NBA legends Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, despite their intense rivalry, pushed each other to greatness and eventually became close friends. Their mutual respect proved that competition doesn’t have to mean contempt. Similarly, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates publicly criticized each other’s companies but always respected each other’s talents. Jobs once famously said, “Bill is basically unimaginative, but he is very smart,” while Gates described Jobs as “one of the most inspiring leaders” he had ever met. In later years, they put differences aside to collaborate and even appeared on stage together.
Our leaders must recognize their words shape our national dialogue. As a former journalist and founder of Alphy, a company focused on using AI to help humans communicate better, I believe deeply that how we communicate matters–whether in our personal or professional lives. At Alphy, we help individuals and organizations communicate in ways that reduce harm and foster understanding—principles that could, and should, apply to politics.
Here is the feedback our Reflect AI technology would give to our esteemed candidates, reminding them to think before they communicate:
Trump on Harris:
"She's as dumb as a rock."
Harris on Trump:
"He's a disgrace."
Democratic VP nominee Tim Walz on Elon Musk:
“Elon's on that stage jumping around skipping like a dipshit on these things."
Republican VP nominee JD Vance on prominent Democrats:
“(They are) a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives."
Let’s create a future where respectful debate, rather than insults, is once again the norm.
Julian Guthrie is the CEO of Alphy. Before founding Alphy, she spent 20 years at the San Francisco Chronicle and is the author of five nonfiction books.
Reflect AI by Alphy is an AI communication compliance solution that detects and flags language that is harmful, unlawful, and unethical in digital communication. Alphy was founded to reduce the risk of litigation from harmful and discriminatory communication while helping employees communicate more effectively. For more information: see www.alphyco.com