Saturday, October 11, 2008

Candidate switcheroo

One interesting facet of argument and debate is to switch the scenario around to its opposite and see how it fares, see something from a differing perspective; i.e. I'm right and you're wrong...but what if you're right and I'M wrong?

Intriguing.

Got this email tonight concerning a) racism, and b) presidential qualifications and just thought I'd share:


What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review?
What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?

What if Obama were a member of the Keating-5?
What if McCain were a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said 'I do' to?
What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no longer measured up to his standards?

What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became addicted to pain killers, but acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?
What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?

If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are? This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

You are The Boss... which team would you hire?

With America facing historic debt, 2 wars, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, mortgage crises, bank foreclosures, etc. consider...

Educational Background:

Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in International Relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899

Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism

Now, which team are you going to hire ?

Sure this comes from a left-leaning source, but try to consider the scenario. Would this road to the general election in fact be viewed differently?

Mild venting over for now. Carry on.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh My,
No doubt who would be on the hot seat! Talking racism here. I still am unsure why this counrty is so divided and still some people are betting on blinkie & winkie winning.

The tide is begining to turn (for the better) All one as to do is look at their neighbors or themselves loosing their jobs, homes and in some cases their families. Shouldn't this be enough to wake them up?

How can anyone in their right mind think that dumb and dumber can turn this country around. SAD!!!!!!!

If you listen to winkie without the picture, you would swear that you were listening to a cartoon character

Me is a pronoun. It is the objective case of I. said...

I'll tell you what if...

If John McCain were all of those "switcheroo" things, he would still be the Republican candidate following an extremely unpopular republican president and would not be elected.

If Barack Obama was everything that he currently is and was following a failing Democratic president, he would be a guy trying to win a losing battle.


What if....

...John McCain was everything he currently is except that he was black? He would suck b/c of the current administration.

...Barack Obama was everything he is now except for the fact that he is white? He would be the man for change with a country hungry for change.

In this instance....I feel race is not an issue.

I feel there is true racism out there, but on the scale of this presidential election it is not significant.



How long could we play the "What if" game. Forever.

How about this scenario:

We elect a president who, generally speaking, has the best interest of the nation at heart. If he/she sucks, then we can get rid of him/her in 4 to 8 years.

THEN, we put term limits on the Congress so we can get rid of them when THEY suck. Rarely do the 535 members of congress get the credit they deserve for f-ups that have occured over the past 2 centuries.

The pendulum swings both ways...lets just keep it from swinging to far either way.

Love,

duke

modellsx said...

Duke my man, I hope you're right about racism not being an issue. But I've lived in the south off and on almost as long as you've been alive. Trust me, racism is still quite strong. I'm sure you heard about the sheriff in Florida last week screaming "Barack Hussein Obama" into a microphone at a McCain/Palin rally.

Me is a pronoun. It is the objective case of I. said...

I hope I am right also. I guess my comment should have specified: I don't feel racism will be a *significant* factor in the general election.

Upon reflection though, I suppose it might be. We both agree there is real racism out there. I'll wager that there are republican and democratic racists. We can't truly know what's in someone's heart and which box that person will check when the curtain is closed.

I am forever an optomist and my belief is still that it will not be a *significant* issue.