NOTE: The Moderate Voice from time to time runs Guest Voice posts by readers who don’t have their own websites or some people who who want to present their viewpoint or just another perspective to TMV’s highly diverse readership. Guest Voice columns do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers.
A question that often comes up during elections is: what do young people think as they watch an election campaign unfold?
This guest column is by Jason Gerson, a Walton High School sophomore, President of his school’s Young Democrats, who has interned at the Democratic Party of Georgia and Cathy Cox for Governor, and has been published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
An Open Letter To Democratic Hopefuls
Dear Presidential Hopefuls,
As you all know, Presidential primary season is heating up. Endorsements are being coming out. Mike’s whipped out Chuck Norris at his peak. When Hillary faltered, Magic Johnson swept in.
In the drawn out electioneering session before Thanksgiving, you framed your campaigns. Experienced Hillary. Audacious Barack. Christian Mike. Electable Rudy.
The most frustrating part of that awkward time is that we saw brands instead of messages, displays of gravitas, not evidence of action.
As Iowa Caucuses approach, a fire under voters’ bellies appears. Some even suggest that voters don’t begin to make their minds up about Elections until just days before they vote. This epitome of scrutiny is beautiful. Finally, the narratives are tested. Scrutinizing Iowans choose their “Best of Show.”
The excitement of this test is dizzying for voters on both sides of the aisle. For Democratic voters, this has culminated in Iowa’s dead-heat match up. For Iowan Republicans, Huckabee has arisen as a consistent conservative they can have a beer with. Even pundits are scratching their heads; writing for U.S. News And World Report, Kenneth Walsh claims “anything could happen.”
Pumped? Don’t be.
Primary season’s earlier onset means more of the season over the Holidays. Already Barack, displaying his emotional appeal, unveiled an clip alongside his wife and daughters. Rudy, only reminding us about his estranged children, banters with a subpar Santa.
Mike’s meanwhile released a more scrutinized video for Christmastime greetings, though perhaps in a counter-productive way. It pushes the Christian message far more than his rivals, but that’s the least of his problems. Sorry, Governor—you’ve been lampooned for the probably accidental but tactlessly subliminal cross-like symbol behind Huckabee during the ad.
Sure, Barack, you can be elected as the first African-American President. Of course we could install the first Madam President. Breaking tradition with a Mormon’s election to the Oval Office would sure be neat. But the Presidency is no goodwill offering to poor precedent.
Hillary, your drop from inevitability toward mortality prompted a series of corny testimonials titled: “The Hillary I Know.” Barack’s touting his Boston Globe endorsements, and Hillary is spinning her Des Moines Register endorsement like no one else—but this isn’t the scrutiny we asked for.
A caveat to Iowa politics is to stay positive. I don’t refute that. I love this most wonderful time of the primary year—inspecting the candidates.
But I want these momentum-giving Iowans to get to know prospective leaders of the free world as leaders, not product spokespeople.
I’m a centrist with a moderate voice myself, so it’s no wonder that I happen to disagree on a whole sundry of issues with populist Iowa. On tariffs and on the terms of force. On gay rights and immigration. On unions and ethanol.
But this we can all agree on: no more hidden crosses in phony ads.
No more Hillary throwing kindergarten essays around.
No more drug accusations dug out from an opponent’s younger years.
No more he-said she-said.
At least after Thanksgiving Day has come and gone, Americans deserve honest conversations about differences in character and smarts, not a sense of humor or sense of spin.
Our political compass should be fixed on America next time you’re interested in hitting home what your role in the electoral performance is — instead of what your value system in this political dialogue is. Rent out Dynasty or Dallas—Americans deserve better soap operas.
Americans are tired of candidates throwing mud borne of pettiness.
Please, start your holidays off on a good foot: stick to policy, not politics.
Sincerely,
Jason Gerson
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.