Two Liberal Guys With Big Hair
By Randall Nunn (07/07/04)
The suspense is finally over and much of the country is probably stifling a great yawn. Senator Kerry has selected Senator John Edwards as his running mate--a choice that probably won't hurt him much, nor will it help him much.
The press was ready with previously written biographies and analyses to try to make an event out of Kerry's selection even though there is very little new information or analysis. One thing is clear and that is that the election contest will be liberal vs. conservative and neither candidate is likely to make significant inroads into the other's base. The only question will be whether Senator Edward's toothsome smile and captivating story about sweeping the floors in a textile mill will energize the liberal base enough to cause them to actually go vote on election day.
When one adds up the pluses, there seem to be very few indeed for the Kerry ticket by the addition of Senator Edwards. Senator Edwards has little experience, and none of it as a chief executive of anything. He has served one term in the U.S. Senate without particularly distinguishing himself as an orator, legislator or champion of liberalism. His military experience and record is of no help to the ticket, nor does he have any significant experience with national security issues or international affairs. While being a multi-millionaire trial lawyer certainly gets one admission into the upper reaches of the Democratic Party, that qualification is not viewed positively by a majority of Americans.
On the other hand, the Republicans can position both Kerry and Edwards as far-left liberals with little experience in national defense, security or international relations and no significant experience as a chief executive that is so important for a modern-day president. President Bush served as a successful chief executive of one of the largest states in the country prior to being elected to the office and Vice President Cheney also served in chief executive positions. Bush and Cheney have significant experience in national defense, international relations and national security. Both Bush and Cheney have been tested in office as few others have. Kerry and Edwards have served only in the government’s top debating club and, based on their attendance and sponsorship of bills, the Senate was little benefited by their presence. If these very great differences between the two tickets are communicated effectively to the voters, the decision in November should be a no-brainer.
The communication of the relative merits of the two tickets will, of course, be the major focus of the campaign. Most of the media is lined up on Kerry's side, not because they are impressed with his competence and experience, but just because he is a liberal and the anti-Bush. The academic community, much of Hollywood and the bulk of labor unions and special interest groups will also be lined up on the side of Senator Kerry. Against this formidable force of left-wing media, academe, Hollywood and big-moneyed special interests will be the majority of middle class American citizens who rely on their own individual effort to earn a living rather than the government or special interests. These middle class Americans are beginning to catch on to the tremendous bias that exists in our press and educational institutions, and are becoming more selective in who they listen to for news and advice. Thus, the powerful media spin machine will have somewhat less influence than in prior years.
Given their lack of experience, commitment and understanding of the average American's desire to live his or her life relatively free from government intrusion and meddling, why do the Democrats think their ticket has a chance in November? It must be because they think that with enough money, enough special interests with an agenda and enough influence over the "opinion leaders" and pundits in the press, they can create a perception that overwhelms common sense and reason. In order for this strategy to be successful, they have to hope that the Republicans and their supporters will be ineffective in communicating reality to the American public.
When all the analysis and pontificating about the vice presidential choice is done, most American voters will continue with their lives as usual and reserve judgment until closer to election day. And as they get closer to that day in November, they might possibly develop some positive thoughts about the Democratic ticket because Senator Edwards has a nice smile, good teeth and is pleasant around people. But will those "happy thoughts" about Edwards be enough? The choice between Kerry and Edwards and Bush and Cheney is like the choice between the tin man and the straw man on the one hand and real people on the other hand--people of substance versus people of perception. I'm betting that the American voter is not ready to turn the reins over to two multi-millionaire liberal guys with big hair and little else to commend them to those of us who live and work in the real world.
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