PrintNovember 3, 2008
Thoughts on the election from a Canadian friend
Now that our rather mundane election is done up here to the North, I thought I'd offer some impressions of your election on the eve of it's completion. I am a Canadian who is a big fan of America and have had many great visits, road trips and many friends who live in your great country.
I see an election that has pivoted on some important points, few of which are related to any specific issues that most voters would appear to be interested in. First, Obama did not so much win his nomination, as he benefitted from a grand opportunity of his party to punish the Clintons. He gained through the vote-against factor. I could say unequivocally that any Caucasian male with the exact same "qualifications" and resume as Obama would not only have failed to secure the nomination of his party, he would not have survived the early primary contests. This is the single biggest factor in the race.
The vitriol towards Sarah Palin is grounded in a strategy that one can glean clearly from Obama's past associations. His entire strategy is based on images of powerful archetypes. For example: A young vibrant black candidate versus a old white cranky candidate which he was trying to frame as the archetype of slave versus slave owner. This strategy explains the pick of Joe Biden as a running mate. Biden is neither qualified nor capable of leadership on the level he now pursues; however he offers another brilliant image opportunity: the black man in charge of the old white establishment. If you look at Obama's relationships and what they represent, this is the only reason for this choice. He is utilizing the underlying guilt of racism as a tool to win the election. His strategy is a "reparations" win.
Sarah Palin throws a wrench in the works because her addition to the ticket changes the dynamics of the race by presenting several very powerful positive American archetypes to the race. McCain/Palin now look like: father/daughter, mentor/protégé, old war hero/frontierswoman, family/courage/the future. You can't work the racism angle here which is why the Obama campaign was totally stumped by the pick; and the press has moved to destroy her. It is also the reason that the racism card has been thrown around allot more liberally (pun intended) since her being chosen for the ticket. My observation about winning candidates for President revolves around the candidate that can take the most abuse and press on. Palin has demonstrated a steady hand under pressure of enormous proportions while Obama beats up his critics. I know who the best candidate is using this metric alone.
In my image of the United States I see the "mom, baseball, apple pie" story. It is a great story based around family, competition and bountiful sustenance. To watch the press beat a woman up for being a contender for high office is interesting; because if you treat anyone's mother like that, it would be considered fighting words. I'll bet you wouldn't get away with treating the mothers of various press mavens with such vociferous malice.
Obama has framed this election as the "reparations" election. That he be elected will somehow right wrongs of the past and set things straight in America is a false omen. He is preying on the goodness of Americans and a negative archetype of American history trying to frame the election based on race and racism. The strategy risks opening old wounds and stoking a situation into a highly charged problem. He is dividing a nation to conquer it instead of bringing people together behind a common goal. He continues to demonstrate through his strategy that he is lacking in maturity for high office. Change is not a goal, it is a reality, just like the climate changes 4 times a year
I am hopeful that Americans vote for the image of the greatness of their past and a positive image of the future: mom, baseball and apple pie. This election has not really been about issues, unless that issue is that "a black man is due". This is a poor precedent for leadership and a shameful approach to utilize as a campaign strategy. This strategy also runs counter to the precepts of MLK's dream: that a man not be judged by the color of his skin. Obama expects a free pass in all things based on his skin color and if he loses it's because those who work against him are racists. Will this work while he sits across the table from the dictator of Iran?
Barack Obama may be one of the most gifted orators of his generation but does not appear to be leadership timber, certainly not leader for the free world. The image over substance approach works great in the movies, but not in the real world; and this world needs substance right now more than ever.
Besides, why would you guys deprive all of those community organizations of such a gifted and inspirational speaker? Just thought I'd ask.
