- Some political watchers are saying this could be the nastiest, most negative election season of all time.

- This campaign season seems like candidates have taken dirty to a whole new level.

- When pundits start shouting and politicians start calling each other's names, it can seem like a return to civility is not possible, like the very idea is a relic of some bygone era.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

NARRATOR: John Adams is a blind, bald, crippled, toothless man who wants to start a war with France. While he's not busy importing mistresses from Europe, he's trying to marry one of his sons to a daughter of King George. Haven't we had enough monarchy in America?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MAN (VOICEOVER): I'm Thomas Jefferson and I approve this message because John Adams is a hideous, hermaphroditical character with neither the force and firmness of a man nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman.

NARRATOR: If Thomas Jefferson wins, murder, robbery, rape, adultery, and incest will be openly taught and practiced. The air will be rent with the cries of the distressed, the soil will be soaked with blood in the nation black with crimes. Are you prepared to see your dwellings in flames, female chastity violated, children writhing on a pike?

MAN (VOICEOVER): I'm John Adams and I approve this message because Jefferson is the son of a half-breed Indian squaw raised on hoecakes and Hamilton is a Creole bastard brat of a scotch peddler.

MAN (VOICEOVER): The nastiest, most negative elections--

MAN (VOICEOVER): Candidates have taken dirty to a whole new level.

BARACK OBAMA (VOICEOVER): It can seem like a return to civility is not possible.

[MUSIC PLAYING]