In the past few years, millions have tuned in to watch insults, slurs and barbs be thrown at what are supposed to be comrades on national television.

Having become a growing trend since television has played a part in elections,  slanderous  ads plague almost every major channel. This leaves me, and many other voters, wondering, “How much could the politicians be getting done if they spent more time actually working with their competition instead of continuously smearing their opponent?"

With November looming closer and closer, political parties should be working together to support their respective candidate. A major factor prohibiting this is the partisan political groups like the Tea Party for the Republican Party. These groups are quick to hand out money and endorse candidates, but are even quicker to call out members of their own party.

The partisan groups make it difficult for a politician to gain any ground within his or her party unless that person lives and dies by the party’s stances. When the Tea Party was gaining prominence in 2010, The Washington Post found that 87 percent of organizers of the movement were unhappy with current Republican leaders.

This dissatisfaction could be attributed to Republican House members refusing to compromise with  Democratic members. Since then, the Tea Party’s approval rating has plummeted, which could lead to more moderate officials being elected.

Media plays a vital role in informing people of politicians’ stances, but has been as much of a hindrance as it has been a help.

I will be honest and say I do not watch the GOP debates, but merely graze the headlines. But it does not seem like someone who is lacking politically savvy is missing much. Most stories talk about the arguments that ensued between Republican candidates for the presidency because Romney called out Gingrich for his shady divorces while Gingrich singled out Romney for “not being relatable” because of his wealth.

These arguments have turned into petty bashings, similar to those seen on an elementary school playground. Yet these are the leaders of the most powerful country in the world.

So, to all future politicians out there, you will have my vote if you stick with the politics and stay away from others personal lives and spend more money on helping what you stand for than attacking the opposition.