Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Warriors and Aristocrats


In the ongoing US electorate hostage crisis, the technician has now dropped out of the race, leaving us with the aristocrat and the warrior. John McCain, obviously, embodies the warrior ethos: he presents himself as a grand hero, and I think it’s safe to say without giving much offense, that people who vote for him will tend to be more concerned about military threats to the United States than Obama voters. Obama, meanwhile, projects a certain aristocratic mien, a class and elegance as well as a fierce intelligence. His voters respond immediately to what they perceive as an innate superiority: one can recognize a leader without looking at their resume. This is not “elitism”, rising as he has from the popular class, but it is cultural aristocracy, and I would guess that Obama voters will tend to be more concerned that McCain voters with the standing and the image of the US in the world. Also it explains Obama’s popularity in Europe, where it’s recognized I think that his rise could only happen in America. Will the US pick the Warrior or the Aristocrat? It remains to be seen.

But, it should also be said that the aristocratic cultural figure cannot declare his wife “off limits”; the kids, yes, but not the marital partner. Nor should he; Michelle Obama is less polished than her husband, but this is to their advantage: it will balance out his somewhat lofty stiffness. His voters should hope that Republicans attack his wife- she’s smart and likeable and attacking her is a tragic tactical error. It will put off the childish Clinton dead-enders who believe that sexism killed their dream and send them running to Obama, and it will reveal the lack of imagination in American politics. Besides, Michelle Obama is awesome. It is a good idea to book her on The View: I’ve been saying for the last month that the campaign should do just this.

In the end, the election will come down to culture versus war: Stendhal’s Noir et Rouge. I’m not convinced that either the Warrior or the Aristocrat will fix very much in the country; we’re at the point where America needs more than anything to elect an Accountant. But what fun would it be to watch an accountant run for office?

3 comments:

Brian Dunbar said...

I think it’s safe to say without giving much offense, that people who vote for him will tend to be more concerned about military threats to the United States than Obama voters

I don't know about Obama voters but I'm pretty much convinced that Obama's domestic policies are sub-optmial.

Let's not forget that Warrior McCain's wife is a) a looker and b) owns a beer distributershop. This is also part of the warrior mythology.

we’re at the point where America needs more than anything to elect an Accountant.

This is why I liked Fred Thompson.

Anonymous said...

He should run with that:
"Free beer! Vote McCain!"

Anonymous said...

agree, mccain voteers r mostly for the war, same or similar age