Common Knowledge

The Unasked Question

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge."

--Benjamin Disraeli--

 

"Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them."

--Paul Valery--

 

"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard."

--H. L. Mencken--

 

 

John McCain pulled another rabbit out of his hat by attempting to make one man out of 300 million Americans into the persona of middle class regular "Joe" America.  America meet "Joe the Plumber."  Whereas I personally believe it is impossible to make one person speak for an entire group of people, "Joe the Plumber" provided America with a wonderful opportunity to take a close look at how a large group of Americans behave during every election.  And the media blew it.   

The media asked a lot of questions about "Joe the Plumber."  We found out his full name.  We found out how much he really makes a year.  We found out what type of home he lives in.  We even found out that he is not a licensed plumber, but what we did not find out is why does not support Barack Obama even though it appears to be in his economic interest.

It is rumored that thirty-six (36%) percent of Americans routinely vote against their interests.  Yet, no one wants to explore why that is the case.  "Joe the Plumber" appears to fall in that category.  Every reputable fact checking website has made it clear that "Joe the Plumber" would receive more tax relief and better health care protection under an Obama administration than he would under a McCain administration, yet "Joe the Plumber" appears to support John McCain.  Why?

That is the million dollar question that the media should be spending its time, because maybe then we will also learn why people in Ohio, Florida, Indiana, West Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and a bunch of other states continue to vote against their interests. 

 

The Character Issue

"Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow.  The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."

--Abraham Lincoln--

"People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously.  This is how character is built."

--Eleanor Roosevelt--

"The character of every act depends upon the circumstance in which it was done."

--Oliver Wendell Holmes--

Every four years we have a presidential election where at least one candidate runs on the "character" issue.  Yet, during the past two presidential election cycles at least one of the candidates has resorted to a scorched earth, divide and conquer, do anything to win strategy in an effort to get elected and no one seems to think that is not indicative of that candidate's character.  I think it is time that somebody raises the character bar.

I have never cared about a candidate's personal life.  I do not care whether a candidate is faithful to his/her spouse.  I do not care whether a candidate is a good father or mother or husband or wife.  I do not care which church (if any) that the candidate attends.  However, I do care whether the candidate runs on policy issues or "wedge" issues that are designed to divide and conquer.

You can not win a kingdom by burning down the land?  You can not gain a crown by destroying the throne?  If in the process of winning the game you destroy the sport, you are not a champion.  You are a cheat.  You are a fraud.  And you are a traitor to the very thing that you strive to gain.  The same is true about the Office of the President of the United States.

It takes character to run for the highest office in the land, to attempt to become the leader of the free world, to attain the most powerful office in the world and still have limits to what you will and will not do in order to get it.  Anyone can lie their way into office.  Anyone can prey upon all of the dirty prejudices, images, and fears that people may have in this country in order manipulate us into voting for them.  Anyone can divide a great nation for personal political gain, but only a rare states person will risk losing an election in order to preserve a nation.  That is character.  That is character that I look for in a candidate.  And that is character that I have rarely found in a politician.

I will not be a liar and a fraud.  I must admit that I am a supporter of Barack Obama so I am in no way an objective voter.  However, the reality is I am shocked and disappointed with John McCain.  I do not agree with him on most of the issues, but I always thought that he was a man of principle and integrity.  I guess I was wrong. 

The real test of character of a political candidate is the campaign that he/she conducts.  And maybe it is about time the McCain campaign is challenged to show some character and start discussing issues instead of slinging mud, because if he wins by slinging mud then his legacy will not be about the Iraq war or the economy.  It will be how to divide a nation in order to gain the Presidency.