BackboneAmerica

The current, highly divisive political climate is great entertainment, but not for the squeamish. The idea of putting the Clintons back in the White House reminds many of the origins of that divisiveness. The sequel would make the original look tame by comparison. The results of the early primaries suggest that people may be hungry for a return of the unity we briefly enjoyed after that horrible day in September 2001.

There is clearly a significant group who believe that Barack Obama symbolizes the perfect answer to uniting the country. In an age of identity politics and populism, he’s part black, part white, part Christian and part Muslim. He’s a little bit of a lot of things, a perfect combination for a politician. On top of it all, he’s likable.

It seems the only way some can envision an America united, is if our leader can claim multiple ethnic identities all rolled into one. But America has never been united by ethnic identity, but by ideas. The greatest of them all is liberty –regardless of ethnic or religious origin, not because of it.

When did people begin to care more about the group their candidate belongs to, than the issues they represent and likability more important than credibility? Was it when Hollywood celebrities began masquerading as Everyman? –- or with the advent of reality TV in which every man tries to become a celebrity? Regardless of when it happened, I’m beginning to wonder if the even word “authenticity” is just another buzz word for being liked.

It’s good to see members of new groups being seriously considered as candidates for President of the United States, but if the groups to which they belong are more important to voters than the issues and ideas they represent, it’s just another affirmative action program.

Specifically, in this case, the “affirmative action” takes the form of a free pass on self-esteem for the voters themselves, who are excused from having to understand or take a stand on the serious issues we face, as long as their candidate looks enough like them or engenders the right feel-good emotions.