Sarah Palin had her first interview since joining the McCain campaign last night, and McCain himself - along with Obama - spoke in a televised “kind of” debate at almost the same time. Along with their wordy and vague answers to hard-hitting questions, the Repubs and Dems have been insisting since forever that they’re “one of” us.
A few weeks ago, the Conventions were full of politician life stories; I was once poor, I’ve had some hard times in my life, I come from a small town, I’m just a hockey mom…blah blah blah blah blaaahhh. These would-be presidents and VP’s spend hours convincing us that they understand what it’s like to have bills, to choose between a full tank of gas and certain grocery items, and to raise a family in today’s trying times.
But here’s my question: once you’ve ascended Politician status, are you still really “one of us”?
Like it or not, in today’s society, you can’t run for a big political office without having a lot of money in your pocket, a lot of important friends, major clout, and usually - a big important degree from a big important school (unless, of course, you’re Palin). You dress in the best clothes, you’ve got an entourage checking and double checking everything you say, and all those speeches you give to the American public? Mostly written by someone else. Oh yeah…and the media stalks you. Every day.
Even if these politicians grew up like some of us, are they really still in touch with what makes up the average American? Is it possible that they can remember what it feels like to walk a mile in Everyman’s shoes?
Even my mom can’t understand what it’s like to be a college student today; how is it possible that John McCain or Joe Biden remembers? Just because Sarah Palin is a mother, does that mean that she speaks for mom’s everywhere? Just because she has boobs, does that mean she immediately knows what it’s like to be a young women in say…Virgina?
Honestly, I wish politicians would stop trying to talk down to us (”I’ve been poor and in trouble like you!“) and start telling us in honest, straightforward ways how they’re going to use their position of supreme power to help us. Obama, Biden, McCain, Palin: You’re not the average American. Use that to your advantage.
What’s your opinion? Are they really like us?
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7 Comments
#1- I love how the poll is completely one-sided at this point.
#2- This was really a great article. I especially agree with your point that nominees should use their position of power as an advantage in these elections. We don’t want people just like us running the country, because we sure as hell couldn’t do it if we tried!
No, they’re not like us; but is that really what matters? I think finding someone that you believe will best represent your values is a smidgen bit more important, but that’s just me.
Can I just say that I love that picture of Obama?
He’s cool and Casual in J-Crew…
I agree that they’re not like us in the sense that they’re in the lead to take over the White House, which gives them a certain unique life experience, which also makes them unlike almost all the other politicians. But at some point in their lives they were like most other people and I would argue that each candidate was more like other “ordinary” people in different respects.
And while they may no longer be one of us due to their current circumstances, I think that the candidates do draw on past life experiences. As for whether or not they can remember what it’s like to walk in the Everyman’s shows, I think that depends a bit on how long they’ve been an Everyman and how long has it been since they’ve been an Everyman.
So while Gov. Palin may not speak for moms everywhere - by the way, which mom could possibly claim that? - she does have a better sense of what it is to be a mom than the other candidates. The same can be said for Sen. Obama in that he knows much more what it’s like to be an African-American than the other candidates.
As for “wish[ing] politicians would stop trying to talk down to us (”I’ve been poor and in trouble like you!“) and start telling us in honest, straightforward ways how they’re going to use their position of supreme power to help us” I find that statement to be rather amusing. The first part of that sentence sounds like you don’t want them act condescending towards the people while the second part sounds exactly like you want them to display a patronizingly superior attitude.
Palin tried to BAN BOOKS at her local Wasilla library. She was in beauty pageants. She is willing to subject her pregnant daughter to media scrutiny. She is nothing like me or my mother!!!!
I’m sorry, but when it gets to the point that McCain bashes Obama for having 7 houses… THEN proceeds to NOT REMEMBER how many houses he has… it was at that point that I realized that no, politicians as large and with as much influence as these guys are NOT “just like us”
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