I guess we all know now, don't we....we got played. John and Elizabeth Edwards, who made faith and the family unit the absolute cornerstone of his campaign, lied. Bill and Hillary Clinton, well, we didn't actually get played there......not even global warming could raise the temperature in their bedroom...as if they actually shared one. Barack Obama? Don't tell me he doesn't have a slight case of buyers remorse. There is no doubt in my mind that given the right (or slight) circumstances, Ms. Obama can be an absolute bitch on toast, as they say in my neighborhood.
But it does lead to an interesting talking point doesn't it? Should we insist that before we consider any candidate for public office, they at least act the part of strong family members, even when it means they remain in an unhappy marriage, a marriage of convenience, especially when it is painfully obvious that the bonds of marriage are somewhat akin to shackles?
Next point. What is this high and mighty expectation of ours that all viable candidates have "found the Lord" and lead spiritual lives, including engaging in frequent prayer? Don't tell me that anyone could somehow believe all public officials since the beginning of the republic were spiritually devout?
We need to stop asking them to lie to us, it is stupid and naive. It seems to me if we really wanted a spiritual man in the election, wouldn't Romney and Huckabee have kicked McCain's ass in the primary? My God, even Teddy Kennedy proclaims faith, for heavens sake. Obama and Clinton claim to be religious, obviously feel comfortable attending church, and do hold at least a cursory knowledge of scripture. But, lets face it folks, both of them used faith and their member churches to gain connections and substantiate a spiritual lifestyle neither of them truly lives.
Reagan was divorced. He admitted it and it didn't hurt his candidacy at all. He wasn't especially keen on church goin' either. Didn't hurt him.
Many Presidents cheated on their wives. It just wasn't reported in the press years ago, that would have been considered low class. But when Clinton was caught with his hands in the piggy jar (an unfortunate expression, to be sure), he went so far as to lie under oath in order to deny it to the grave. Was it really so important that he would commit perjury over it?
We somehow hold these candidates to unbelievable standards (lying and cheating aside) where one slip of the tongue, or misstep knocks them out of consideration, and it is costing us in the long run. We need to let these men and woman be real. Real, actual carbon based life forms capable of minor mistakes and slight mis-speaks. Otherwise you'll be placing your order for more of the same. Candidates who can't be trusted to say anything not already prepared for them, material gone over time and time again, then feed through monitors so they can just stand there and read.
Look at Obama for heavens sakes. He can't put three words together without a slight hesitation, in fear he might slip, and this is a very intelligent man. When you look at the big picture, part of the problem, as usual, is us. We make the rules, they just play the game. And that is the world...."The World According to Kimba." Thanks for reading.
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