How Not to Win an Election

I am astonished at the animosity thrown at the Obama/Biden ticket by supporters of McCain/Palin.  Now, I’m not naïve; I know that the reverse is true of some people.  But it seems to me that, in my world, I’ve seen nothing but hate tossed at Obama by Republicans. 

Anyone using his middle name as a way to scare people is just simple, and more to the point, that’s insulting to a potential audience.  You’re assuming that the people you’re talking to are stupid enough to cast doubt on a man because his middle name is Hussein. 

I’ve seen Obama referred to as “Hitler” which shocked me.  Hitler?  Really?

I know that Democrats, myself included, have been having a field day with Sarah Palin.  But I feel as though fear is motivating me, not hate.  I don’t know anyone who hates Sarah Palin.  The idea of her representing this country in general, or me in particular, scares the living daylights out of me.  So, yes, I laugh my head off at Tina Fey, but mostly I’m scared, because the SNL writers don’t have to work that hard at all to produce a sketch that is hilarious and ends up, for heaven’s sake, on Meet the Press!  I can’t remember ever seeing SNL discussed on Meet the Press.  And all of the moderators giggling like little kids.  That just adds to my fear. Yes, America, it would be a very scary thing to have Sarah Palin in the White House. 

I think Tina Fey is helping people realize exactly that.  We’re laughing here in New York, which I’ll admit is its own little bubble, but people are laughing all over the country, and as they’re laughing, or sending links to their friends, (hopefully) they’re thinking, this would be a mistake…a mistake…

Of course, the people watching SNL are likely liberals anyway, so we’re not exactly reaching the intended audience.  But still.  People forwarding links…word is getting out.  Those Katie Couric interviews…in a sane world, Palin would have been pulled off the ticket straight away.  Why leave her on the ticket when she’s turning your campaign into a punch line?  I am not a professional political operative, so I’ll just wonder.  And be scared. 

But anyway.  Back to the hate.  It has been suggested to me that people sling hate at Obama because they’re racist, and I don’t believe that either.  (Perhaps because I am ever the cock-eyed optimist, and choose to think the best about people.)  It has been suggested to me that I’m a racist, because Obama isn’t exactly ringing my bell.  I am not a racist; it’s just that he’s not my ideal candidate.  But he’s smart, and I want a President who is smart.  He’s capable of leading the country, and I want a president who is capable.  He does have a certain amount of gravitas, and I think that’s important as well.  I believe he’ll be a compassionate president, because of what he’s had to endure in his life, not the least of which is people calling him Hitler, or believing that he’s evil because his middle name is Hussein.  Or believing that he’s not capable because he’s black. 

Not many candidates have the amount of economic expertise that’s ideal, or the amount of foreign policy expertise, or the amount of any kind of expertise, for that matter.  Being President of the United States is purely on-the-job training.  You want someone who can expand, or contract, as the need arises.  I don’t want John McCain in the White House, and I don’t want Sarah Palin in the White House.  I don’t want to watch the debate tonight because I fear that it will be a contest to see who can debase the other fellow more efficiently.  I lose respect for candidates when they say things like, Obama is pals with a terrorist.  And I’m tired of hearing the word “Maverick” – especially from a tired old man.  He’s probably a very nice tired old man, but I don’t want him in the White House.

Here’s an apt quote from the movie “The American President” --

“We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you, [John McCain] is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things and two things only: making you afraid of it and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections. You gather a group of middle-aged, middle-class, middle-income voters who remember with longing an easier time, and you talk to them about family and American values and character.“

And you imply that a man named Barack Hussein Obama is a terrorist, because his background isn’t like yours. 

Maybe, if Obama wins, that will make us all a little more tolerant.  Lord knows we need it. 

Comments

[Erica]

I confess, Liz, I am one of those "intolerant" supporters of McCain/Palin of whom you speak. To be fair, I have found that there is very little difference any longer between either side of the political fence. I am a Democrat, but a very Conservative Democrat, and to quote someone whom you probably reserve much disdain (Ronald Reagan), "I didn't leave the Democratic party...the Democratic party left me."

Members of my family were killed in The Holocaust and I remember them every single day, and pledge with all my heart that I will never, in my lifetime, allow anything like that horror what happened, happen again. To that end, I will explain the reasons for the comparisons.

As I surely don't need to tell you, our economy is shattered, and while the very wealthy (a market, we must admit, Democrats have equally cornered with Republicans) make off like bandits and Wall Street CEOs cut very sweet deals for themselves - Fishman and Fuld should be strung up by their marbles - desperate middle class citizens are struggling to keep their heads above water.

Obama has all kinds of plans, pledges, and promises to bring "much-needed tax relief for the middle class," and they are all socialist policies...he will lower taxes for the middle class, but tax businesses, which in turn will have to raise prices and in no time we will probably find ourselves paying $20 for a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk.

He is a charismatic leader who promises hope & change to the people who are desperate for relief, he has dispatched a "Truth Squad" to whitewash his image and correct what he considers viral untruths spreading like wildfires throughout the mainstream media, he has "followers" instead of "supporters," speaks to 75,000 in open-air arenas (Denver...Germany) and, in spite of coming off as a very nice man, his style is eerily reminiscent of Europe's fascist tyrants of the 1930s & '40s.

He has ties to William Ayers who, in spite of Obama saying he was only eight when Ayers did the terrible things he did, most neo-Nazis in Germany also weren't even born by the time Hitler and Eva Braun committed suicide, so his argument falls flat - they've served on a Board and on panel discussions together, and Ayers held an Obama fundraiser early on in the campaign. Obama also he sat in the pews of church led by a vitriolic preacher, but claims, all of a sudden after 20 years, he never heard Jeremiah Wright say "those things," and that's when he decided to distance himself. These are things which I don't think should be overlooked.

I don't think McCain is so great, nor do I agree with Sarah Palin on everything, but Obama scares the hell out of me, for far more reasons than I've even given, but these are just the primary ones which leap to mind. I promise, while it may be the case for others, my feelings for him have absolutely zero to do with the color of his skin, and I do look forward to the day that we can elect a black president, or a female president...but they have to be qualified, and while Obama certainly does have leadership experience, I don't think he has experience in what we, as a country, need right now.

I'm tired of hearing the word Maverick, too, but I'm also tired of hearing Hope! Change! because both sides are doing an extraordinary amount of finger-pointing, but neither side of Congress, and neither of the two candidates are getting the job done. I am sick to death of the partisanism, the false promises, and all the baseless accusations.

And for the record, I thought the SNL skits with Tina Fey were brilliant. I hope I've come across as respectful, and not barking insults...it's the one thing I find lacking in our candidates and all politicians across the board.

Warmest regards,

Your former Ford Street neighbor from the other side of The Belt.

[Liz]

Thanks, Erica, I appreciate your honesty. And I’ve always appreciated your good sense, period.

I agree that no one seems to be getting it right at the moment, and the two choices we have aren’t optimal. The President, though, is just the face of the party, so I’m going to vote along party lines and throw in with Obama. You’re right; he does seem to have some relationships in his past that don’t hold up to the light very well. (I think we all do!) I’ve served on boards with people whose politics and methods I didn’t agree with; I just tried to focus on the fact that we were working toward the same goal. Also, I think it’s important to have as many different types of people in my world as possible, and I would hope that any President would as well. I learn from people who are very different from me, probably more than I learn from those who share my views or value set. I certainly am not advocating what Ayers did, or what Wright preaches or preached. I do know that it’s possible to take what’s good (or what’s needed) from a person, or a relationship, and leave the rest behind. And I’m hoping (in fact betting) that that’s what Obama has done, and will continue to do.

I can understand why a Jewish woman would be afraid of another Hitler. Obama is nothing like Hitler, though, his grand designs have nothing to do with race, or religion, or even nationalism. Have you ever read Hitler’s speeches, even the early ones? He made no bones about his intentions, right out of the gate. He was a proud anti-Semite as early as the ‘20s. Obama isn’t planning a campaign against any particular ethnic group, or economic group. I think that the logic employed in Obama’s early speeches is logic I would have employed myself, just as I think the logic he employs now is (some of) the logic I would employ myself. Hitler was a sociopath from the start – a charismatic sociopath, but still…

Whoever wins…good luck to both of us.

[scribbler]

yes to hope.
no to hate & fear.
period