For all of the criticism of the Republican Party, one has to admit that the GOP campaign machine still remains second to none in sowing discord and supporting sophistry from conservative columnists while generally gravitating the elecorate toward a poor decision come November.

With an economy coming unhinged, tax cuts depleting the national treasury and spending increases needed to continue the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the fact that McCain is running dead even with Obama is a tribute to the “Spin Zone” of Republican campaign leaders.

As I have previously lamented and will continue to do so, the Republicans have shifted the game from one of “policy” to one of “personalities.” Criminal trial lawyers, when faced with bad facts in a jury trial, sometimes argue for a “jury pardon”, essentially asking the jury to acquit our clients for reasons other than the facts at hand.

This election season, in a race that has been dubbed the Democrats to lose, the GOP has done just that, ignoring their part in our national dilemmas by bringing up issues of “elitism” and “values”, words and phrases that are used to suggest that somehow the GOP is not to blame for our troubles.

In recent weeks the GOP has continuously depicted itself as “populists” while a number of Americans have eaten the rheotric up. The reason? Sarah Palin.

Palin has certainly become the game changer in that she is responsible for taking American media and voters “eyes off of the ball.” The first week after joining the McCain campaign the national media cared more about her 17-year-old daughter’s pregnancy than the pending failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which flew under the radar until the government bail out was announced last weekend.

During the past week, the media has discussed her preferences in shoes, eyeglasses, and hair-styles. In the meantime, rumors of gas price increases sent Americans scrambling to buy up the 4 dollar per gallon gas out of fear of 6 dollar per gallon gas. Lost in translation is how on Earth did we even get to four dollars a gallon in the first place?

Who is to blame for this inability to focus on the issues? For years a number of politicians and academicians have discussed the need for greater cultural literacy in America, a point that I wholeheartedly agree. Our culture is rapidly becoming dumbed down, so much so that Americans spend more time in front of a television as opposed to reading a book, newspaper or online news source. If we were to poll the average voter this year about how a Bill becomes law or who succeeds to the presidency if both the president and vice president die in office, few would be able to answer.

As a result, a number of people are planning to vote for reasons ranging from “who I’d most like to have a beer with” to “skin color” to “I think that Palin is a good mother.”

None of these reasons is a legitimate indicator of presidential success. I guess we are in the midst of a reality TV series “Race for the White House” where the viewers will base their decisions on popularity---not ideals.

Again, I have to tip my hat to Republicans that continue to prove that its “best qualified” rhetoric is merely words. Last Thursday, Governor Palin’s inability to answer ABC’s Charlie Gibson’s question about preemptive warfare reminded me of my school years when some of my classmates, woefully unprepared for class, stammered, hemmed and hawed while not really answering the teacher or professor’s question.

Yes, if this race remains focused on personalities, I predict that Obama and Biden will lose because their academic preparation and career choices deem them “elite” in a society in which a significant portion of the population prefer stupidity.

It reminds me of a profound comment from none other than comedian John Stewart who said earlier this year “I hear what youre’all saying, but doesn’t elite mean good? Stewart went on to add, “”Not only do I want an elite president, I want someone embarrassingly superior to me.”

So do I, John. When weighing my decision I will consider the following biographical synopses that were emailed to me this morning by my fraternity brother, Dr. Michael Gordon:


Senator Barack Obama
BA, Columbia University, Political Science

J.D., With High Honors, Harvard University

Eight years as a State Senator from Chicago, four years as a United States Senator.


Senator Joseph Biden
B.A., University of Delaware, History and Political Science

J.D. Syracuse University College of Law

United States Senator since 1973.


Or…..


Senator John McCain
B.S. United States Naval Academy

(Finished fifth from the bottom of his class. As the old timers used to say, McCain did not graduate “Laude” but “thank you Lordy”)

Four years in Congress, 20 years in the United States Senate.


Governor Sarah Palin
Hawaii Pacific University-1 semester

North Idaho College-2 semesters in General Studies

University of Idaho—2 semesters Journalism

Mantanuska-Susitna College-1 semester

University of Idaho-3 semesters---Finished a BA in Journalism

Mayor of Wacilla pop. 7,000, Governor of Alaska. pop. 650,000.

To me, the difference from an academic standpoint is clear. Sadly, for many Americans, it probably won’t matter.

Join BBN for free to post a comment on this page.
If you already have an account, please login here to post a comment on this page.