In politics, as in life, words matter. They mean precisely what they say, not necessarily what we mean them to say. Once they are uttered, once they enter the public domain, they cannot be unsaid. All the explanations and clarifications in the world are of no use. Words take on a life of their own.
This morning (February 15, 2012), CNN trumpted a "surge" in support for Rick Santorum over Mitt Romney as the Republican presidential nominee. Yet the gap between them is only 2%. This is a surge?
CNN also raised the specter of "class warfare" because Santorum is the favorite by a wide margin among blue-collar voters, whereas white-collar voters prefer Romney. By the same token, gender warfare could be said to have erupted between the two camps (men for Santorum, women for Romney).
Meanwhile, Santorum himself says he is a "full-spectrum conservative". This could be interpreted as meaning that his base is wider than merely Tea Party patriors and white evangelicals. But it can also be seen as an attempt to please everyone at the risk of pleasing no one. At least he's not "severely" conservative as Romney claimed to be at CPAC.
Santorum has previously said that he "cares about 100% of America". This is patently false. He clearly does not care about pro-choice advocates, or about lesbians and gays who want their relationships to enjoy the legal status of marriage.
CNN and Santorum, how about a little truth in advertising? Let's take the rhetoric down a notch, shall we?
Showing posts with label Santorum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Santorum. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Santorum is the Next Washington? By George!
I'm beginning to feel like a late-night comic. Rick Santorum keeps supplying me with fresh new material. The latest ammunition in my arsenal is the news of his ad claiming he's the next George Washington. Santorum had better get himself some new copy writers. This is a gag just waiting for a punch line. (Insert your favorite one here.) I can well imagine, for instance, what Saturday Night Live will come up with.
I sort of know where Santorum and Co. were going, or trying to go, with this. After all, Washington was "first in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen", and he couldn't tell a lie. All good stuff.
But he also had wooden false teeth and a powered wig. And he lived more than 200 years ago. Come to think of it, I'm not surprised Santorum would make such a comparison. His understanding of the Constitution is stuck in the 18th century. He doesn't realize that the Constitution is a living document, not a dead letter.
Will Santorum make it to the White House? Maybe. At this stage of the game, anything can happen. If he does, let's hope the place doesn't burn down over his head. Because then -- like Washington, in effigy at least -- he'd have to rely on Dolley Madison to rescue him from the flames.
I sort of know where Santorum and Co. were going, or trying to go, with this. After all, Washington was "first in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen", and he couldn't tell a lie. All good stuff.
But he also had wooden false teeth and a powered wig. And he lived more than 200 years ago. Come to think of it, I'm not surprised Santorum would make such a comparison. His understanding of the Constitution is stuck in the 18th century. He doesn't realize that the Constitution is a living document, not a dead letter.
Will Santorum make it to the White House? Maybe. At this stage of the game, anything can happen. If he does, let's hope the place doesn't burn down over his head. Because then -- like Washington, in effigy at least -- he'd have to rely on Dolley Madison to rescue him from the flames.
Santorum Surges ... But Is His Base Too Narrow?
According to the New York Times website yesterday (February 13, 2012), two polls -- including the Pew Poll -- show that Mitt Romney's commanding lead over Rick Santorum has dwindled to a slim margin ... among Tea Party patriots and white evangelicals. As Shakespeare would say, "Ay, there's the rub." Is that base of firmly committed conservatives enough to keep Santorum's presidential aspirations alive? That remains to be seen. The New York Times also suggests that Barack Obama would edge out either Romney or Santorum if an election were held today.
Meanwhile, also yesterday, CNN's Political Ticker contemplated a number of different scenarios as the Republican primaries and caucuses move forward to Super Tuesday and beyond. The site offers visitors the opportunity to experiment with allocating various combinations of delegates to the four candidates.
But, to quote a well-worn phrase, the only poll that counts is Election Day. And that's a long way off.
Meanwhile, also yesterday, CNN's Political Ticker contemplated a number of different scenarios as the Republican primaries and caucuses move forward to Super Tuesday and beyond. The site offers visitors the opportunity to experiment with allocating various combinations of delegates to the four candidates.
But, to quote a well-worn phrase, the only poll that counts is Election Day. And that's a long way off.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Is Santorum's Richie Cunningham Jumping the Shark?
Sweater-vest-wearing Rick Santorum has been compared to Richie Cunningham of "Happy Days" fame. Santorum doesn't see any problem with this, saying that a little Richie Cunningham wouldn't be a bad thing for the old USA.
Maybe. Perhaps we should be thankful Santorum wasn't compared to Opie Taylor of "Andy Griffith", played by the same actor (now director) Ron Howard. Just a thought...
Maybe. Perhaps we should be thankful Santorum wasn't compared to Opie Taylor of "Andy Griffith", played by the same actor (now director) Ron Howard. Just a thought...
Monday, February 6, 2012
The Republic(an) for Which We Stand
The primary season is well under way for the Republican Party in the United States, and the field of candidates has been whittled down to four. There are two main contenders vying for the presidential nomination, and two others still alive and kicking. It is debatable whether the two minor candidates, and even one of the two main contenders, will make it to Super Tuesday or beyond.
As a Canadian, I have no say in the matter. I cannot vote for any of these four men. That does not mean I cannot have and express an opinion -- albeit my own humble opinion -- on their respective merits and qualifications to become President of the United States of America.
My view of the Republican presidential candidates is largely shaped by what I consider pivotal moments during the campaign thus far -- moments when I felt something of their character (or lack of character) showed through in their words or deeds.
Here, then, is my admittedly personal and subjective response to what I shall waggishly dub "The Fanatic Four", with a nod and a wink to Marvel's comic-book hero quartet.
A Mitt, But No Catcher
During one of the primary debates, George Stephanopoulos asked Mitt Romney a rhetorical question -- a trick question, perhaps, a cleverly laid trap reminiscent of the kind the Pharisees and Saducees concocted in an attempt to stump Jesus of Nazareth.
Stephanopoulos asked whether a state could hypothetically outlaw the sale and use of contraceptives. Romney danced around the question and sought to avoid giving a direct answer. He argued that it was a moot point, since no state would ever take it into its head to do such a thing. I found Romney's evasiveness somewhat disconcerting.
Moments later, Ron Paul (another of the candidates) gave a calm, reasoned, logical answer to the same question. He cited laws governing trade and commerce between states. There was absolutely no hesitation on his part, and indeed the other three seemed to defer to his superior judgment in constitutional matters.
This incident continues to underlie my misgivings about Romney -- the man who, at this stage of the game, seems likely to be crowned heir apparent to Barack Obama's "throne".
With Libertarianism and Justice for All
This brings me to Ron Paul, the candidate toward whom I feel most strongly drawn. What appeals to me about him is that he seems the best versed in law and the U.S. Constitution, although the others often cite the Constitution as the basis for their political beliefs. They talk, but he clearly knows what he is talking about.
He doesn't stand a chance of winning the Republican presidential nomination, of course. Of the four, he alone has not yet "won" a primary or caucus. I don't know how much longer he can survive.
Physically, he is unprepossessing. He is the oldest, I think, and has a somewhat nervous look to him. He is also the folksiest of the four, which may make him a nice guy, but Commander-in-Chief of the US armed forces? I don't think so.
Let Him Who Is Without Sin Among You, Cast the First Ballot
Then there's Newt Gingrich. He's been the focus of a lot of negative ads. His own ex-wife has provided some of the ammunition for these attacks designed to impugn his character and personal integrity.
There is perhaps a subtle moral distinction between Herman Cain's alleged sexual harassment of women, and Newt Gingrich's serial infidelity to his wives. If Cain was deemed unworthy of being President, should the same be said of Gingrich? Likewise, Cain denied up and down that he had been guilty of sexual harassment. Gingrich could not gainsay his own transgressions, but that doesn't prevent him from cloaking himself in a mantle of sanctimonious indignation.
Yet it was an electrifying moment when Gingrich chastised CNN's John King for kicking off a primary debate by mentioning the erstwhile Mrs. Gingrich's allegations. At that moment, I was almost converted to Newt's cause. Almost.
Santorum's Slip of the Tongue
That leaves Rick Santorum. I found it rather interesting that, when he quoted the most famous phrase of the Declaration of Independence, there was dead air for a second at the word "Creator". Was he temporarily unable to remember it? Was he loath to utter it in a sudden fit of secular political correctness? Something weird happened, because he got the rest of the quote right.
Someone said of Rick Santorum, "He's like a chicken running around with his head cut off. Everybody knows the chicken is dead -- except the chicken." A mean-spirited comment, perhaps, but with some semblance of truth. It is only a matter of time before Santorum is forced to bow out of the GOP race, for lack of support (both warm bodies and cold cash). He may then have the "Courage to Fight for America", but not the wherewithal.
Four, Three, Two, One
The countdown begins, as exciting as any at Cape Canaveral, and which stakes just as astronomically high. A year from now, one of these four men could be the leader of the free world, if Barack Obama proves to be a lame-duck president unable to win a second term in office.
Which choice would you (or will you) make as an American? The field may not be as attractive as you or I would like it to be, but this is what's available. This is as good as it gets.
As a Canadian, I have no say in the matter. I cannot vote for any of these four men. That does not mean I cannot have and express an opinion -- albeit my own humble opinion -- on their respective merits and qualifications to become President of the United States of America.
My view of the Republican presidential candidates is largely shaped by what I consider pivotal moments during the campaign thus far -- moments when I felt something of their character (or lack of character) showed through in their words or deeds.
Here, then, is my admittedly personal and subjective response to what I shall waggishly dub "The Fanatic Four", with a nod and a wink to Marvel's comic-book hero quartet.
A Mitt, But No Catcher
During one of the primary debates, George Stephanopoulos asked Mitt Romney a rhetorical question -- a trick question, perhaps, a cleverly laid trap reminiscent of the kind the Pharisees and Saducees concocted in an attempt to stump Jesus of Nazareth.
Stephanopoulos asked whether a state could hypothetically outlaw the sale and use of contraceptives. Romney danced around the question and sought to avoid giving a direct answer. He argued that it was a moot point, since no state would ever take it into its head to do such a thing. I found Romney's evasiveness somewhat disconcerting.
Moments later, Ron Paul (another of the candidates) gave a calm, reasoned, logical answer to the same question. He cited laws governing trade and commerce between states. There was absolutely no hesitation on his part, and indeed the other three seemed to defer to his superior judgment in constitutional matters.
This incident continues to underlie my misgivings about Romney -- the man who, at this stage of the game, seems likely to be crowned heir apparent to Barack Obama's "throne".
With Libertarianism and Justice for All
This brings me to Ron Paul, the candidate toward whom I feel most strongly drawn. What appeals to me about him is that he seems the best versed in law and the U.S. Constitution, although the others often cite the Constitution as the basis for their political beliefs. They talk, but he clearly knows what he is talking about.
He doesn't stand a chance of winning the Republican presidential nomination, of course. Of the four, he alone has not yet "won" a primary or caucus. I don't know how much longer he can survive.
Physically, he is unprepossessing. He is the oldest, I think, and has a somewhat nervous look to him. He is also the folksiest of the four, which may make him a nice guy, but Commander-in-Chief of the US armed forces? I don't think so.
Let Him Who Is Without Sin Among You, Cast the First Ballot
Then there's Newt Gingrich. He's been the focus of a lot of negative ads. His own ex-wife has provided some of the ammunition for these attacks designed to impugn his character and personal integrity.
There is perhaps a subtle moral distinction between Herman Cain's alleged sexual harassment of women, and Newt Gingrich's serial infidelity to his wives. If Cain was deemed unworthy of being President, should the same be said of Gingrich? Likewise, Cain denied up and down that he had been guilty of sexual harassment. Gingrich could not gainsay his own transgressions, but that doesn't prevent him from cloaking himself in a mantle of sanctimonious indignation.
Yet it was an electrifying moment when Gingrich chastised CNN's John King for kicking off a primary debate by mentioning the erstwhile Mrs. Gingrich's allegations. At that moment, I was almost converted to Newt's cause. Almost.
Santorum's Slip of the Tongue
That leaves Rick Santorum. I found it rather interesting that, when he quoted the most famous phrase of the Declaration of Independence, there was dead air for a second at the word "Creator". Was he temporarily unable to remember it? Was he loath to utter it in a sudden fit of secular political correctness? Something weird happened, because he got the rest of the quote right.
Someone said of Rick Santorum, "He's like a chicken running around with his head cut off. Everybody knows the chicken is dead -- except the chicken." A mean-spirited comment, perhaps, but with some semblance of truth. It is only a matter of time before Santorum is forced to bow out of the GOP race, for lack of support (both warm bodies and cold cash). He may then have the "Courage to Fight for America", but not the wherewithal.
Four, Three, Two, One
The countdown begins, as exciting as any at Cape Canaveral, and which stakes just as astronomically high. A year from now, one of these four men could be the leader of the free world, if Barack Obama proves to be a lame-duck president unable to win a second term in office.
Which choice would you (or will you) make as an American? The field may not be as attractive as you or I would like it to be, but this is what's available. This is as good as it gets.
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