The Cosmopolitan Blog

Some people say elections have nothing to do with the issues, it’s about personality. So let’s talk about it.

Against Obama: Main criticism of Obama states that he seems unapproachable. He’s not trustworthy, because we don’t understand him, he’s not like you, me and the neighbor who struggle every day with bills and 2 jobs. He doesn’t joke as much, show vulnerability or open himself up to criticism. He uses complicated words when he talks. He’s overly educated. He’s spent more time getting educated than getting experience. He tries to hide his inexperience

Pro McCain (and Palin): we understand them. He looks like he could be my neighbor. He’s a joker, this makes him seem friendly and approachable. He has experience. He’s been around and has fought for our country for decades. She’s a regular mom who juggles family and work, this is a victory for the average person, this is proof that the average person can make it to the White House. She believes in God and her life is guided by God. That makes us one of us. She’s from the heartland. She WILL therefore fight for us and our needs, because she understands and has the same needs.

COSMOCHICK’S VIEW:

Obama obviously has a lot of education. He knows a lot from what he’s read in books and studied. That makes him smarter than me. He is about to run for the highest office in the land. The LEAST I would want, for that person, is to be smarter than me.

Look, if McCain seems approachable and looks like my neighbor, then that’s awesome. Let’s have a beer together. If McCain is an expert on matters such as war, because he’s a hero and has fought in one and got captured and all, then that’s awesome. Let’s put him in charge of what he knows, that specific area of expertise. Oh, wait… his expertise… hmmm… He came fifth FROM THE BOTTOM in the academy. He has never voted for additional healthcare for war veterans. May I just remind you that in ‘00 and in ‘04, you voted for a guy you could related to. You happy with where that got you?

Bottom Line: Lots of money and time goes into electing the no1 person in this country. Therefore I want to know that i got the best person money can buy. I WANT to know that the person is super-smart, super-educated, super-qualified. I don’t want to think of him as my equal, i want him to be superior to me. And if that sounds elistist, than so be it.

The man is the leader of the free world for the love of goodness! In fact, as Andy says in a comment to his own post, that is, by definition, elite. So what about Lincoln’s “government of the people, by the people, for the people”, you ask? It’s called rhetoric and inspirational speaking. Was he lying? No. He still meant that the leader needs to be the most qualified for the job, not a guy you want to have a beer with.

Part 2 of my effort at fairness, looking at the serious criticism of Obama’s campaign (and of Obama himself).

Issue 2: The ACORN Issue

Arguably, this is a more serious issue than the Ayers issue, I think that was acknowledged by all parties.

1. CLAIM: ACORN has created fake voter registrations by using fake names: for example names of people who are actually deceased, even the name Jimmy Johns, the name of a restaurant where no actual Jimmy Johns worked at, they even created fake registrations for the entire Dallas Cowboys football team. Since Obama is linked to this firm in some way, and since 1+1=3, Obama is rigging the election.
2. FACTS:
   • ACORN has been under investigation for over four years
   • ACORN has created over 5,000 fake voter registrations in at least 6 states and continued to do so until a few days ago when it became a national issue
   • Obama’s campaign used ACORN’s services (it was actually a subsidiary, but fine, let’s simplify) during the primary campaign to register voters at a fee of $800,000.
   • ACORN endorsed Obama for president
3. CONCLUSIONS:
   • Obama used the services of a firm under investigation: YES
   • Should he have? NO
   • Would it have affected the outcome of the primaries NO the number of registrations was a few thousand, Obama won by much more
   • Does it make a difference that ACORN endorsed him? NOT REMOTELY, do you know how many companies endorse each candidate, 1/2 the time without the candidates even knowing it?
   • Will this affect this election? NO, since a. they’ve been caught, b. all registrations (fake or non) coming from them have been pulled, c. this was not actual votes, it was registrations for new voters to be able to vote

COSMOCHICK’S RANT:

While I think this is a more serious issue than Ayers, because Obama’s campaign is to blame for having hired a firm under investigation, the consequences of his actions are, well, non-consequential. Again, this is a political tactic. McCain is trying to put doubts in voters minds by lining up a bunch of things that will make you question his judgment. What McCain doesn’t tell you is that he’s done just as bad, that it’s all part of the game of politics, and that even HE (McCain) doesn’t think this are big deal issues, he’s just grabbing at straws.

However, if you feel that your trust in Obama has gone because a guy who bombed the Pentagon organized a meeting to launch Obama’s campaign, and because he used the services of a firm under investigation, then you have the right to feel that way. That means McCain’s argument was persuasive. And i can’t fault you for this.

What I will say though, is don’t imagine ANYTHING here is black or white (and I’m not talking about the candidates’ skin colors). If you think there’s doubt to be cast on Obama’s campaign practices, then you should know there are is just as much to be cast on McCain? Why? Am i saying this because I’m bitter? No. I’m as calm as i can be when i tell you: it’s the name of the game, politics. You do what you can do to get ahead. You say what you can say.You promise what you need to promise. And if you think McCain is any better, because he seems nice, because he seems approachable, because he could be your next door neighbor, because you can relate to him, because he doesn’t flash a Harvard education around… then think again. He might very well be all of these things, but he’s not become a presidential nominee by being a nice guy, trust me.

And you know what? In 2000 and 2004, we elected and re-elected a guy that seemed nice and approachable. Look where that got us. *sigh* I feel a new post topic coming on whether a POTUS should be just like us… Stay tuned.