As the presidential race reaches a fevered pitch, those of us who tuck the portable radio under our pillows can’t wait for the next big, little or downright trivial story to break.  For the rest of America, it’s about Oscar, Roger, Britney or Simon.  Not to demean the politically unengaged, just a plea to disengage.  Yep, that’s right.  Don’t vote and pollute the patriotic waters of discernment, debate and civic immersion. This just may be the tabloid election and by virtue of that the one that spells the end for the USA as you and I know it, friends..... 

“But Randy, that’s so elitist, smug and exclusive of you,” you say.  Noooooo……it’s about preserving the country whose flag I am blessed to pledge, whose beauty has brought me to tears and of which I am very proud.  Unlike Michelle Obama, it didn’t take spouse swooning fans  and polls coronating my wife the next prez to finally imbue  me with love of country.  For Ms. Obama and other millions who are smitten with her husband, charisma and magnetism,  lofty sound bites,  broad smiles and promises of ‘hope’ and ‘change’ are all it takes to seal the deal.  Barack Obama is an intelligent, articulate and ‘fresh’ (whatever that means) candidate.   Barack Obama is not an administrator,  has little legislative portfolio,  and sports microscopic foreign policy credentials.  But he’s ‘hip’, ‘cool’ and most important,  new.  And it’s Obama’s  powerful persona that fills auditoriums, raptures the press, and scares the living daylights out of boomers, conservatives and nationalistic Americans of all ages.   This election, those voters who watched Sesame Street while Reagan brought down the Berlin Wall but were riveted as Bill Clinton brought new meaning to the 60's hit “Devil With the Blue Dress On” will make the difference.  The tabloid electorate threatens to delegitimize the process this cycle.  And they’ve found their guy in “Just Words” (his, well, not actually his words) Obama. 

The flap over Michelle’s newly found patriotism is instructive.  The left print media and most broadcast outlets either ignored or subordinated the gaff.   Which is striking given its stark juxtaposition to her husbands’ insistence that the great political sound bites, no doubt soon to include a few of his own, aren’t “just words”.  So let’s all beg the question together now friends:  If words matter as much as the candidate maintains, and Ms. Obama said twice in rapid fire succession that it took the country’s love affair with Mr. Obama to make her proud of America, shouldn’t we take her seriously?  And if we should, isn’t this more about their ambition than their country?  Perhaps worst of all,  Obama’s disciple legions, who can’t tell you what in the world he’s ever accomplished other than social justice organizing on Chicago’s south side, still bask in the glow of hope rooted in unspecified change. 

Yes, my kids, their friends and many of my non political friends think this guy’s the second coming,  but for no particular reason.  When I ask them “What change do you want?”,  it’s a deer in the headlights moment, but they still swoon when he speaks!  It’s  the Beatles, Elvis or The Stones all over again……but we didn’t want them to be president!  So will it be the smooth, sleek and stylish socialist or the crafty conservative (mostly) curmudgeon come November?  Even the polls can’t get things right this cycle.  Curse those generation X and younger voters who think with their i-pods.  We may have finally reached the tipping point where style really does trump substance.  Follow the pop culture and you may have the answer…Simon says so, after all. 

Which brings me to why I wrote this rant after all…to thank you for being engaged and encouraging those in your sphere of influence to become discerning citizens too.  Here’s a tip, have ‘em listen to 97.1 talk, call in and immerse.  Kelly, Steph and I value your audience.  Listen Saturdays for exciting news about upcoming opportunities to get to know us better over the months leading up to THE most important vote you’ll cast for a long time.

Best,

Randy