Just what is it we want in a president? The question comes up because McCain is making some bizarre claims for why we should vote against Obama -- and they're sticking. Some of the charges:
* Obama is too smart. This is worse than a dumb president? Then again, Americans are suspicious of smarts -- you can flaunt income but not IQ.
* Obama is too physically fit, he needs to put meat on his bones. The presidency is a grueling job, don't we want someone with stamina?
* He's too popular. We've seen where an unpopular prez. has gotten us -- GOP senators are avoiding their convention.
* He's too presidential, too confident. That gives him an air of arrogance and entitlement. Hmm. Bush managed the arrogance and entitlement without being presidential. But don't you want competence in a surgeon or a pilot?
So why should some very good qualities disqualify someone from the presidency? Here's a guess, by a blogger named Terrence Heath, of what's really going on. We understand and don't resent privilege (which McCain and Bush have in abundance) because we want that for ourselves some day even if we vote against our ability to actually get there. But appreciating someone who got somewhere on merit and hard work? That's scary. That implies that we also can do better -- and also implies the accusation that we should have been doing better and demands that we think about why we are not. Skate through life on your daddy's (or wife's) fortune? Hey man, I'm with ya. Earn it by actually working? Sorry, can't relate.
No comments:
Post a Comment