October 8, 2008
Editor's note: NPT asked two El Pasoans with a keen insight into politics -- and an overt political bent -- for their take on the McCain-Obama debate. For a different view, click here.
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I'm supposed to write you a one-sided opinion piece on last night's debate. I'm supposed to bash Sen. Barack Obama while boosting Sen. John McCain. I can't bring myself to do it.
I don't see politics as a team sport. I think both parties have turned their elected officials into "team players" who are more interested in promoting the political system with which they identify themselves than the constituents who elected them. Too bad there is everything to lose and nothing to win when you play like that.
Nobody won anything last night. McCain's followers claimed victory as did Obama's followers. The fact is that this country is very divided on these two candidates and there simply isn't an honest person left in the "undecided" category. Does it matter who did better when people have already made up their mind?
The very problem with the political fabric that makes up the flag of our democracy is the existence of too much pride. Too many people are willing to root for their candidate just like they would their favorite football team. It's an odd way to behave when it comes to elections.
Having "your guy" win the election just so you can put something in the face of those who disagreed with you is a reckless way to sustain the traditions of our great country. Winning at all costs may be a great idea for fans of the Boston Red Sox, but it's no way to put someone in office.
We stand to let dangerous people with dangerous ideas take the top spot in the land when we label ourselves a "Democrat" or a "Republican" and refuse to examine who is vying to take our most important post.
Both candidates said some very scary things during last night's debate. McCain said he wanted to bail out all those homeowners behind on their mortgages with government money. Obama repeatedly indicated that he wanted to take money from those people who work to earn a good living and give it to those who choose not to. Both of those ideas are so foreign to what the framers of our constitution and the founders of this country had in mind, it's mind boggling.
If either of those two statements had been made in 1948 these guys would have been hauled in front of McCarthy so fast you'd think they teleported there. Had those words been uttered in 1948 and not 2008 it might have been one of the only true examples of communism McCarthy found.
I'm not sure any of you care whether or not your candidate says something completely inane or completely insane. You're just rooting for the home team no matter what they're saying or doing. Many of you are so wrapped up in being "right" about your party that you are forgetting to really examine what your candidate stands for.
We've got devout Christians who believe, "thou shalt not kill," rabidly following a guy who has made no bones about wanting to send our forces off to kill men of other nationalities and religions.
On the other hand, you have Catholics who vehemently oppose abortion, but are supporting a man who wants to not only keep abortions legal, but increase access to them for underage girls.
Why are these people supporting candidates who do not share their views? Pride. People identify themselves more with their party's name than the party's ideals. It's a dangerous road that we are traveling.
Nobody won last night. Ridiculous answers were delivered to a numb audience. Nothing of what was said made any real sense. You can't solve a single problem that we have with the answers they gave last night. Posturing, vagueness and nonsense is what we saw last night. Those are the qualities of an aggressive, babbling drunk – not a candidate for President.
To top it all off they were asked questions on LEGISLATION and their LEGISLATIVE ideas repeatedly! They aren't running for a seat in a legislative body! They're running for a position atop the EXECUTIVE BRANCH! Maybe that's why America is so confused on who to blame for what – we don't even know who's responsible for what as laid out by our Constitution.
Go ahead and claim your victory. Scream at the top of your lungs, "My guy won! My guy won!" Just remember in a few years from now when things haven't changed and you're still unhappy that your foolish pride put you right back where you started.
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David Karlsruher is a conservative and a Republican who writes frequently for Newspaper Tree. His commentary can be found at Refuse the Juice.