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There was a lot to be learned in the
presidential election of 2004—if anybody was paying attention. It was difficult to see what was happening beyond the smoke
and fury of TV ads, one-liners catering to public fears and an abundance
of mud for slinging. The frenzy gained so much momentum that
supporters of a candidate rallied around him to put him on a pedestal
immune from harm. Any
weaknesses were glossed over and the supporter could idolize the chosen
candidate. At the same time, the opposing candidate was
given the public relations to reduce him to political rubble. Initial disagreement with that candidate went through the
stages from disgust down to frantic hatred.
Seldom in modern times have such emotions been raised for and
against candidates. Seldom
have the opposing parties ending the campaign with such national
animosity. It wasn’t just one party. Both indulged in the shoddiest of tricks in the name of
winning an election. No
slur was left unused. No
stone was left unthrown. Each
candidate was trashed beyond recognition by the opposition.
It was a battle of the Madison Avenue public image creators. They taught George W. Bush how to walk and how to talk.
They tried and failed, until it was too late, to teach John Kerry
how to smile. Even in a time when America was on a war
footing, the badge of military service took a paradoxical twist. John Kerry’s active duty during the Vietnam War should have
worked for him. It worked
against him. George W.
Bush’s lack of active duty during the same war should have hurt him.
Instead, his National Guard service and photos in flight jackets
worked for him. Score another one for Madison Avenue. During a period when many Americans wonder why
we invaded Iraq and if the deaths of Americans were worth it, the GOP
campaign convinced voters first it was a preemptive strike against
weapons of mass destruction. When
that treatment evaporated, the rallying cry was we went in for Iraqi
freedom. More attention and
investigation was given President Bill Clinton over Whitewater and
Monica Lewinsky than over the reasons to invade Iraq and perks to
Halliburton. Only a courteous mention was made to issues of
the campaign. No one asked
why America was the target of terrorists, or how we could diffuse
it—other than dropping another bomb.
No one asked how an economy could go from a surplus to a
$7-trillion deficit. No one
asked how an administration supposedly fiscally conservative could
continue to cut taxes and increase spending.
No one cared that our children’s children and future
generations must labor under the weight of debt. A side issue showed the weakness of the
electoral system, but it’s been around so long no one complained that
an individual’s vote doesn’t count if it’s cast in a state
overwhelmingly voting for the opposing candidate.
The outdated Electoral College was born with the nation, in a
time when communication was snail paced and voters might know the local
elector they could choose and expect him to select the best man for
president. These days we
know more about a candidate than the neighbor who has lived next door
for years. Religion made uncomfortable inroads into the
election process. If
America puts religion on the ballot, it stands the danger of becoming a
government dictated by a specific religious belief.
We have seen the danger of that in other countries, especially
Islamic where no other belief is tolerated.
Our founders left to old country to have freedom of religion, not
to be ruled by the pulpit choosing our president.
If religion takes control, the one in power might ban the Koran
or the Torah. Or, it might be a religion that bans the King James Bible. Party strength and weakness were evident in the
election—and who could raise the most money.
The Democrats couldn’t seem to get in step. And the Republicans marched to one cadence.
And money made a difference, as usual. The undercurrent of the political future was
there for anyone who could see it.
Had John Kerry been elected, he would certainly been his
party’s candidate for reelection in 2008. That was Hillary Clinton’s worst nightmare. She played coy during the campaign, gave lip
service to Kerry’s candidacy, but no more.
In the later days of the campaign, Kerry was suddenly surrounded
by the campaign veterans of the Clinton clan.
Were they there to help or hurt?
Regardless, he lost. You can expect to see candidate Hilleary Clinton
on the stump in four years. Would
anyone trash a lady’s reputation for the sake of winning an election?
Of course. This is
politics and everything goes. In the meantime, we have learned nothing and the
process will repeat itself.
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