In order to be elected to high office in the USA, one must apparently be seen by ordinary folks as a compassionate and caring person – particularly toward the less fortunate, needy and middle class. One must be seen as “on their side — looking out for them.”
Qualifications and experience are obviously less important — at least in terms of electability. Certainly, no one was better qualified to be president than Gov. Mitt Romney. He is a man of character, great accomplishment, proven knowledge, education, et cetera. Yet he was statistically rejected by the majority of the poor and lower middle class and most minorities. Romney’s proven solutions to our jobs, pay, economic growth, debt and deficit problems were rejected in favor of another 4-years of more of the same.
Americans voted for Obama – an academic politician with little or no chief executive experience or leadership skills – and a disastrous first term. His primary talent appears to be teleprompter-assisted public speaking and the willingness to tell audiences what they want to hear. He employs neo-communist Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals” methodology. He “leads from behind” as inexperienced leaders must do.
Obama promoted himself as the champion of “Hope and Change” – but in reality has given us “Smear and Fear,” “Divide and Conquer,” while employing the politics of envy, racism, sexism, anti-rich, anti-business, etc. ― to accomplish his de facto Fabian Socialist objectives. He always portrays himself to be on the populist side of the issues.
Obama and his colleagues have no fear of deceiving – recognizing as Alinsky points out – that people rarely remember what you promised or declared, or hold you accountable, as long as you are seen as “on their side.”
Clearly, if Republicans hope to win high office in the future, they must learn how to portray themselves as one of the middle class. Hopefully, they will not rely on lies and deception – but will find a way to communicate honestly and credibly.
Image: William McKinley campaigning, 1896; public domain/copyright expired
