Soapbox
Presidential election provides no clear winner in either party

By Sam Eisele

Mirror Guest Writer
January 25, 2008

Recently, a question I’ve been asked often is something like, “So who do you like?” The answer has nothing to do with school, sports or my social life. Rather, I’ve been talking presidential candidates.

It’s not that my vote counts for much. I’m registered to vote in South Dakota, whose delegate count for the Democratic National Convention is dwarfed by that of Puerto Rico.

I’m not writing, however, to complain about the political influence (or lack thereof) of the northern plains. Rather, I’m frustrated that we’re in an election year that’s both very exciting and very important…and I don’t like anybody.

Those who know me best know I usually vote democrat. Nevertheless, I’ve tried to do my homework on both parties, given the weight of the choices our country faces. I realize that my perfect candidate will never be on a ballot, but I’ve still found it difficult to make a solid choice.

Knowing I will likely end up voting for a democrat come November, I nevertheless have given republican candidates my full attention and respect. But it seems they all have a vice or two.

John McCain does not have me convinced that singing “Bomb, bomb Iran” to the tune of a Beach Boys classic is laughable. In 1993, the man recommended immediate withdrawal from Somalia, suggesting any further American casualties in that conflict was blood on the hands of Congress. Iraq is obviously a different situation, but I’m not fond of his idea that 100 more years there would be “fine.” His argument consists of recognizing the U.S. presence in many other countries – why exactly we need to be in all of these places I cannot yet determine.

Governor Mike Huckabee scares me. Saying - and I quote - “what we need to do is to amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards” makes me uncomfortable in a warm and fuzzy theocratic sort of way. I do not believe Mr. Huckabee is a terrorist, but let’s face it: this kind of thinking has something in common with the Taliban.

This Constitution talk is implausible anyway; politicians are infamous for false promises, but the governor tends to tread on sacred ground (so to speak), or perhaps more accurately, carpet bomb it. I have the utmost respect for his outspoken faith, but it should be neither socially imposed nor used for political gain (the famous Christmas commercial). Mike also fails to reach across the aisle at all on the issue of homosexuality, declaring it tantamount to bestiality and pedophilia. How’s that for compassionate rhetoric?

Governor Mitt Romney impressed me right away by failing to have anything about the environment or global warming on his Web site, and I haven’t heard him speak on the topics.

Furthermore, the governor has a habit of not answering questions. Again, this is a universal politician’s vice, but this man is a master of artful ambiguity.

Rudy Giuliani reminds me that he was mayor of New York City during 9-11 so often I sometimes wonder if he knows that it’s 2008. I don’t want to criticize this man too much. He’s inexplicably maintaining his campaign while trailing miserably in polls in both Florida and New York, his home state that gave him bragging material. Nevertheless, his immigration views lead me to believe he considers our southern neighbors to be something of a different species.

Once again, I recognize that all of these men have good ideas and plans, and they’re all qualified individuals in their own ways, so please don’t denounce me as an inflammatory liberal lunatic. Nevertheless, you’d think I could swing left and find solace in the dems, right? We’ll see.

Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are making me more and more infuriated with a party who owes more to its country than nit-picky bickering. I agree with both of them on many of their ideas and plans – that’s just who I am politically. But both of them are at fault for their crimes against productive dialogue.

The Clintons (notice the plural) have become so immersed in derogatory commentary that one is forced to conclude one of two things: Hillary and Bill (who needs a leash these days) are either lying about Obama, or he is in fact an immoral liar whose fiendish nature is disguised only by his deceptive oratory.

Obama has responded in turn, accusing Hillary of being a liar herself. Meanwhile, republican candidates are gleefully taking notes for the fall. Once upon a time, I had the audacity to hope for a cleaner primary season.

Let’s not forget our friends in the media who blatantly aggravate the sins of our future president. If one candidate takes a stab at another, it makes the headline. Daily. Mainstream news networks have become professional tattletales.

Take the democratic battle, for example. The issue of race has come up repeatedly, and every time it does everyone goes ballistic trying to root out the culprit, the victims and who needs to apologize. Questioning whether Obama is “black enough” is too stupid to merit my attention. Brian Williams asking the senator about the legitimacy of claims that he’s a closet Muslim made me reach a new low in my respect for these people.

CNN, MSNBC and FOX have also taught me that if you are black or female (or especially both), you are bound to vote based on your gender or race. Insult the candidates all you want, but please don’t degrade blacks and women to the level of brainless individuals who submit to irrepressible instincts that override their political objectivity.

Finally, the media has excluded perfectly viable candidates from virtually all discussion. For those who are shouting, “He didn’t mention Paul or Edwards!” – I’m about to. I do, in fact, like both John Edwards and Ron Paul. The problem is not that they are too radical to legitimize their own campaigns, but rather that many don’t know who they are.

Ron Paul provides painfully sensible input into what is otherwise a myriad of republican candidates who eloquently offer more pork and more unoriginality.

John Edwards is the only viable democrat standing who recognizably leaves petty squabbles with opponents at the door. He said it well in South Carolina: “This is not about us personally; it is about what we are trying to do for this country and what we believe in.”

Sadly, the chances of either of these individuals winning his party’s nomination have fallen to levels beyond my hope. Ron and John, we thank you for bringing us back to earth when we needed it.

I’m not trying to pointlessly bicker with anyone. I’m not trying to tell you why your candidate is bad. Yes, I disagree with just about everybody on the ballots this year, and you are more than welcome to tell me why I’m wrong. My primary frustrations are not borne of apathy, but rather of a genuine passion for a country that is not getting what it deserves.

After eight years of the abysmal failures of the current administration and its Marionette-in-Chief, we cannot afford to become involved in disputes over insignificant personal qualities of politicians in our political discussion. Challenge yourself and your neighbor to have real discussions about what really matters. The media owes it to the candidates, the candidates owe it to you and we all owe it to our nation.