Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Telling like it is isn't a winning strategy
By: Dan Lett
Posted: 04/14/2008 12:08 PM
| Comments:
Once again, I'm stunned about the absurdity of the U.S. presidential race. Front-running Democratic contender
Barack Obama sparked another weekend of angry debate after he suggested that some voters, embittered by their depressed economic prospects, turned to guns and religion as solace. These comments prompted challenger
Hillary Rodham Clinton to respond that Obama as "elitist" and out of touch with common Americans.Where to start?First, Obama and Clinton are both elitists. It's part of the particular style of democracy embraced in the western world that elitists generally dominate politics. That's a blessing and a curse, as many voters know. Good because it puts smart, successful, educated people in positions of power; bad because those smart, successful, educated people sometimes have their heads up their well-read asses. But the issue here is not whether politicians are elitist, it's about whether elections help to solve or entrench the biggest problems faced by a society.Eruptions of self-righteous indignation have dominated the Democratic leadership campaign. Whether it was former president and possible first husband
Bill Clinton's suggestion that African-American voters were voting for Obama just because he was black, or Obama's slick dance around his relationship with the
Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., an incendiary religious leader who has garnered attention for scathing speeches in which he describes the U.S. as a deeply racist, war mongering nation. Now, we have Obama on the defensive again for his portrayal of certain pockets of the American public for whom religion and their obsession with the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment eclipses every decision they make in an election.Second, although reasonable people might still object to the tone of some of these comments (in particular, Wright's rantings) there is very little in what any of these people have said that is evil. African-American voters are passing over Clinton for Obama, much in the way many women are turning their backs on Obama in the hopes of electing the first woman president in U.S. history. Racism is still alive in the U.S. (as it is in every country) and as for war mongering - the cost in dollars and human lives of the effort in Iraq is certainly fodder for debate. Obama's recent comments about bitterness, god and guns may have been poorly worded, as the senator now claims, but there are signs that he's not too far off the mark.Consider that alongside the New York Times article about the Democratic dust-up is a Google ad for something called The Church of God, and its collection of books and pamphlets which predict that the United States will drift closer to the Kingdom of God in 2008 when the aforementioned God arranges for the return of Jesus Christ and thus kicks off the destruction that results in the end of the world.Now, we still have most of 2008 to get through, so I'll be cautious in my assessment of
the Church of God. But is there a small possibility here that demand for books like this have a little bit to do with the tumultuous international events, such as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the deepening fiscal crisis now gripping the U.S.? Suffice to say those conditions haven't hurt sales of the Church's books, which in true apocalyptic fashion are actually free. (I mean, why go through the hassle of on-line billing and charging for shipping and handling if the world is ending this year?)Perhaps Obama doesn't expect evangelical gun nuts to vote for him, and thus making comments like this don't really worry him. Or, perhaps he is a rare breed of politician who doesn't mind talking about these things because, out in the open, perhaps there is a better chance of addressing and repairing the fractured American populace. Remember, this is a country where a gun-loving, anti-government libertarian blew up a federal office building in Oklahoma City and killed 168 people in response to the federal government's mishandling of a raid of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, the resulted in the death of 76 devotees.At first blush, there appears to be a connection between guns, religion and economic disparity, and the potential for violence that springs out of this equation will not be alleviated if politicians are afraid to talk about the underlying causes while occupying the spotlight of an intense election campaign.-30-
Dan Lett, Winnipeg Free Press
12°c Light rain showers
7°c Cloudy with showers
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.