An Honest Question

"The American Promise" (Obama campaign ad)

"Ayers" (McCain campaign ad)

Tomorrow evening Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain will debate for the third and final time this election season. For most, this will be the final time these candidates have an opportunity to discuss the issues. The posted videos are the latest ads to be posted on the YouTube pages of Obama and McCain. Neither ad actually expresses a key issue in this election. According to the CNN Issues page with data conducted by PollingReport.com, 58% of Americans top issue is the economy. The next largest issue: healthcare at a whopping 13%. Tomorrow night truly is the final time these men have an opportunity to discuss issues that truly matter to Americans. 

Let's start with Obama's ad, "The American Promise". It's a great online advertisement coming in at a long 2 minutes and 43 seconds it shows clips of Barack Obama speaking, crowds cheering, and talking about Americans rising up and "changing". It's a well made ad with catchy music, good editing, but doesn't discuss one single issue facing Americans this election season other than Obama's buzzword, "change." Upon watching this ad, it is very easy to figure out what exactly the Obama campaign is trying to do: motivate. With three weeks to the day left until election day, Obama wants as many supporters as he can muster out there creating "change" and beginning to fulfill his "American Promise" by knocking on doors, phone banking, emailing, whatever it takes to bring home "change" next month. It is not trying to convey a specific policy position Senator Obama has, or attempting to contrast his candidacy with that of John McCain's. Therefore, it succeeds and fails. It addresses but doesn't. It is in less than three minutes a fantastic look at the Obama campaign. A promising politician, fired up audiences responding to Obama's call for change, and may in fact create the motivation in supporters that have yet to join the campaign to do so now in the final stretch. 

With that being said, the ad fails. Now more than ever, Americans want answers about how these candidates are going to tackle the serious issues we are now facing. The economy, despite the massive increase in the stock market yesterday, is still incredibly fragile. Many more Americans are facing job losses and foreclosure, yet none of this was uttered in the Obama ad. It paints a pretty picture of what the United States can be under an Obama Presidency. At this point, a lot of people are willing to take hope and are simply assuming everything will be fine under with Obama as President. At this point, it's going to take more than hope to fix our problems and those campaigning for Obama now are going to have continue that support and work through the good and bad that could occur with Obama at the helm.

Now onto McCain. 

We are all now well aware of Bill Ayers. (For those that don't, there is a reason both Wikipedia and hyperlinking were created). I need not explain who he is, because the John McCain ad describes him for you and his relationship with Barack Obama. What I find interesting in McCain's message is there is a complete lack of any issue. While certainly Americans don't want a President who "pals around with terrorists" it may be a far cry to actually say that. It's OK to question one's judgement and you want to win this election, so it is understandable that you would do both. However, it doesn't seem to be working. As daily polls come out, Senator Obama continues to gain in the polls, even in states that seemed so red (North Dakota, West Virgina) just a few weeks ago, it would have been hard to imagine Obama gaining there, but he is. With or without the Bill Ayers ad, many Americans are coming to an agreement. 

"I may not agree with Obama on all the issues, but the Republicans haven't helped much, in fact, I may be worse off with them in charge," are the thoughts of many who have been interviewed and polled. 

McCain's campaign is definitely looking for answers and thought the judgement and associations of Senator Obama would dissuade voters and bring them to or back in the McCain category. Frankly, Americans are getting fed up. It has become same old politics in America. McCain the Maverick has proven to be anything but, even going back on his own promise to shy away from negative campaigning. Even if McCain did want to blast Obama away with the negative ads, let a 527 do it and continue appearing as the Maverick. If Bush had the Swiftboat Veterans, surely McCain could do even better. Instead, McCain is too focused on how to get people to hate Obama rather than explaining why he'd be a better choice for President. With crowds now seeming more angry and rowdy, and not at McCain's proposals, but simply the crowd's disapproval of Obama. It seems almost probable that these two candidates have been turned into two groups. Those who support Senator Obama and those who don't. 

McCain's true support is waning, that much is true. I had a wonderful conversation last week with a student at KSU who is a Republican and was a McCain supporter from the primaries up until three months ago and had previously supported the Senator's candidacy in 2000. His reason for jumping ship: McCain was not the same man and was lacking ideas for the country. That much could be true and from a campaign strategy side, if you knew of the same problems with voters that I heard from this gentleman, then you change your campaign. Make it about NOT supporting the other guy. When stumping, don't bring up anything YOU plan on doing, just how awful the plans of the other guy are. Supporters that were earlier falling asleep at a rally, wake up, and begin screaming and yelling in much of the same fashion that the characters of Orwell's 1984 did. 

With this new found knowledge in mind, the ads begin to make sense. Obama's ads are about supporters doing something (what that is, we still have no idea) and McCain's ads are now about fear, anger, the "Two Minutes Hate" if you will. With the lack of true issue based substance in these candidates, perhaps this is why tomorrow night will be similar to the previous two debates, boring, rambling, and telling me absolutely nothing of the direction either of these two men want to take the United States. That more than Bill Ayers scares me and that more than the "American Promise" makes me want to take action to ensure I still have a country by the time my hair falls out. 

Please Senators, one of you is going to be handed a big pile of garbage from King George II, who promises "plenty more to do in the last 100 days." Get with the program and inform the general public or at least the masses who are too lazy to read up on your policy positions via your websites. Whether you like it or not, in three weeks the American people are going to head to the polls and vote and then, "it's all over now, baby blue." 

Perhaps Bob Dylan had it right when he sang that song 43 years ago. He proclaims in the first verse, "You must leave now, take what you need you think will last. But whatever you wish to keep you must grab it fast." We may need to hit the road and disappear if this doesn't all work out in the end. America could truly be in danger if we don't think this one through before going to the polls in November (or earlier if you're the early voting type). Educate yourself and friends on the positions of these candidates and research them to the fullest. Don't rely on the candidates themselves to explain this to you, they're too busy "campaigning". 

Go "Team"!

 

JOHN MCCAIN     vs.       BARACK OBAMA

The 2008 Major League Presidenting Championship

Red versus blue. Elephant versus Donkey. Republican versus Democrat. Dawgs versus Gators. Wait, scratch that last one. Or should we? What we think of as a legitimate race for the White House is nothing more than a glorified sporting event that is perpetuated by the same media outlets that broadcast our beloved true American sporting events. I expect to see four spectacles going on in the Autumns of election years: college & pro football, the World Series, and the Presidential Election. Not that the election doesn't matter, because it does, but how else can one explain why the two "teams" have team colors, mascots, and rabid fans. That sounds much like every sports team in the United States. We identify those oddly enough with colors and mascots. Hmm, noticing a pattern?

Using football as an example because the fan base for a specific team is about as insane as some Americans' passion for their candidate (the star quarterback) and their team (Congressional candidates, other offices, etc.) as we head down to the final weeks. As poll data comes out about how states feel about their stars, we color code those states with "red" or "blue" depending on if they're leaning toward McCain or Obama. When election day hits, the true insanity begins. As the returns come in, the news media will begin to shade in the states based on the state's "score" (who won the state) and battle for 270 electoral votes (the score necessary to win) will become the scoreboard. Watching this is more exciting than the Super Bowl and game 7 of the World Series combined. It's captivating. At this point, I'd much rather have John Madden, Al Michaels, and what the hell, we'll throw in Bob Costas in their to call this "game". Honestly, that is what this all has become.

 For all the decades this fine country has existed our Presidential election system has mainly focused on the "two major parties". Whether this is the Democrats and Republicans or some other bizarre form of political parties that has yet to morph into the spotlight, it comes down to #1 vs. #2. The ultimate battle. The media makes sure we all know that this exists by completely ignoring every other candidate from every other party that somehow manages to make it on the ballot. There are exceptions mind you (namely H. Ross Perot). These exceptions are given airtime because they sell. Perot's massive ears in 1992 clearly were more exciting that a redneck Governor playing saxophone on the Arsenio Hall show or President Bush (the first one) rambling on about reading his lips. Apparently, we're all deaf. So the media hopped on the Perot bandwagon. In the end, it didn't matter, it came down to Red vs. Blue, Elephant vs. Donkey. A further detailing of the sports comparison now begins.

The regular season of the Major League of Presidenting (sorry W. had to borrow it) begins approximately four years before the election. One of the two teams has one leaving the other to regroup. Candidates form their teams to compete is this season so long it makes Major League Baseball seem as short as little league. The hit the road, showing off their new team to all MLP fans as they cheer, wave signs, even those foam fingers, of course in the color of their favorite team. The regular season runs out quickly, usually January of the election year when the primaries begin. This begins the playoffs.

The playoffs eliminate most candidates quickly. They cannot represent their respective league in the championship rounds. The strong teams, in this year's case Obama, Clinton, and on the Red team, John McCain make it. People wear their team apparel with pride, chant, have signs in their yard, waving, screaming acting like Jackasses and Elephants. The first round of the playoffs concludes once you have narrowed down the process to a minimum of two candidates on either side. Obama and Clinton went a strong 7 game series, coming down to a walk-off homerun for Team 'O' that sealed his appearance in the championship. McCain looked down early, but made a major comeback towards the end of the first half and sealed his trip to the championship. The conference playoffs now end leaving us one candidate from either side.

DEMOCRATIC DONKEYS vs. REPUBLICAN ELEPHANTS

              

Barack Obama John McCain

The two team leaders now representing all of their teams and former opponents square off early. The first and second quarters see little action, with advertisements, stump speeches, and TV appearances talking up their team and why we should start rooting for them. At the conclusion of these interviews, TV stations then show a giant digital map of the United States and start coloring in the states. They predict how the game will end, but oh how is just getting started. After a slow first half, the candidates pull out a fast one before half time. RUNNING MATES. One became two, and the team either grows stronger, or begins to show its weakness. The refs blow their whistles, it's half time.

The half time show isn't nearly as exciting as seeing what goes at the Super Bowl, but it's a spectacle. The conventions are four day long half time shows celebrating everything to do with your team. Music and alcohol are included as are pseudo-inspiring speeches from our team leaders as we all shout out: "GO JACKASSES!" or "GO ELEPHANTS!" "WIN THE BIG GAME!" We then begin making out with the person standing next to us, things are just too damn awesome! After that final day however, things begin getting serious.

The two sides, knowing that the game is much closer than anticipated know they are beginning a tough second half and it's going to take some quick scoring in the third quarter. The speeches become more intense, the ads become dirtier (ex. "John McCain is going to use your tax money to gamble!" or "Barack Obama, yes, he's STILL a Muslim!") and we have the top referees get involved with something called debates. Yes folks, this is where we are in the game, so close, yet so far from the buzzer when states begin to decide which "team" they want for the next four years. Our precious media darlings grill both candidates on all sorts of issues. The candidates respond. After these debates, pundits from the media "score" the candidates. 

"Obama or McCain intercepts the ball from McCain or Obama late in the 3rd quarter to take a commanding lead." 

These headlines COULD happen after one of these debates. It's all about the game. November 4th is when the game will end and teams will know if it's time to start rebuilding for the next four years and the other will enjoy being crowned champion of the MLP and get to live in a big white house until the next battle begins. It's not that the election has become a joke, but when you break it all down, that's all it really is. The Super Bowl, World Series, Kentucky Derby, Stanley Cup, the Presidential Election. Hmm, I like it. What do you say folks, Barack Obama or John McCain on the cover of Sports Illustrated depending on the outcome? I mean c'mon the champions of all other sports just get a picture AT the White House. These champions live in it. 

Final note. Here's to the Tampa Bay Rays winning the American League East and hopefully a successful playoff run.