COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO: WAKING UP TO AMERICAN POLITICS

Having lived in Washington, D.C. and worked in the U.S. Senate, I was always a political ‘junkie.’ I adhered to the belief that it was each citizen’s responsibility to learn everything about the candidates prior to casting a vote. My information gathering included not only what the candidates’ proffered as their message, but delved into the factual history of their leadership accomplishments, as well. As of this morning, I have lost all interest in following the 2016 Presidential election. For the first time while the Today Show presented Ted Cruz photo shopping pictures of Rubio shaking President Obama’s hand, then Donald Trump dissing the Pope as being ‘disgraceful,” followed by Hillary Clinton implying that Bernie was not a real Democrat, I fast forwarded past the morning political news so I could avoid the uncivil discourse.

The lack of maturity displayed by the majority of the candidates in both political parties is astounding. Once Donald Trump’s candidate bashing gathered steam, the other potential nominees began emulating his style as a winning formula. Instead of offering pro-active policies on the issues of immigration, health care, the Middle East crisis, the economy, and decaying infrastructure, the rhetoric resonates with school yard name calling. The logic appears to be “if I can create enough doubt about my opponents’ credibility, then by process of elimination people will vote for me.” Our political debates have been reduced to the lowest common denominator of “liar, liar, pants on fire” coming out of the mouths of adults.

Although I hate providing Trump with more ‘air’ time, his campaign also represents a new entry from today’s culture: the reality TV celebrity personality as politician. The majority of our electorate knows more about the Kardashians than they do our politics, so why are we surprised by Trump’s popularity? Even Trump admits that many of his inflammatory remarks while campaigning are aimed towards inciting his audiences, and that he would never behave in such an uncivilized manner once elected as President. But how can we be sure? The public is angry and feels helpless. They are rallying their rage around an outspoken celebrity with nothing to lose, who believes that winning is everything regardless of the means.

Alexis de Tocqueville commented that the “manners and the customs of the nation’s people” were at the heart of maintaining a constitutional republic. Reality TV and the internet have allowed the concept of civility to disappear in our culture. In the name of ‘free speech’ and ‘I don’t want anybody telling me what I can or can’t do’ there are no boundaries. Statesmen turned politicians are considered boring today, with their repetitive and robotic stump speeches. The electorate wants to be entertained. But as Bernie Sanders and John Kasich have stated, being President is serious business and our country’s issues require considered diplomacy.

Quite frankly, I am offended by this ‘battle of the bullies’ on the political front and dread the constant streaming of barbs and insults during the next eight months. Party affiliation no longer represents any common ideology, so voting on strict party lines has no meaning today. Even after the myriad of cringe-worthy debates, I have only identified who and what each candidate is against, and nothing as to what positive changes they propose. What I have observed, however, is a lack of manners, civility, respect, and demeanor befitting any future President of the United States. What we are seeing today is nothing more than a televised cock fight.