Obama’s Opponents and the Theater of Self-Destruction

The Rumpelstiltskin strategy won’t work. It has been evident since Super Tuesday at the latest that those who want to run against Obama are their own worst enemies. They refuse to choose a hero to oppose him but insist on serving up a shredded torso. The President has it easy against his angry opponents who offer nothing but discontent.

In recent history, two American presidents have failed to get a second term: Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush. Their opponents were formidable campaigners and men of the people with contagious passion. The political conditions leading to their departures were less relevant.

There’s no doubt that Ronald Reagan won because Carter had failed in office. But Bill Clinton wasn’t faced with a mood of deep national depression — he was simply the more convincing candidate and the people were tired of Bush. If one accepts these basic conditions as voter motivation, then Obama has a good chance of being re-elected.

Even if gasoline prices are relatively exorbitant by American standards — a liter of gasoline costs 76 Euro cents or around $1 — there are still several glimmers of hope in the basic economic data such as the unemployment rate and consumer confidence. The principle deciding factor however is that the alternatives to Obama have nothing to offer.

The Republicans will not put forth a strong challenger to Obama; they will offer up a shredded torso. This political self-destruction extravaganza (their second since the 2008 show starring John McCain) can only hope to be saved by the intervention of the almighty God they talk about so much. On the one hand that should comfort them; but on the other hand the radicalization and rage in this selection process is reason for worry as well.

This primary more than any preceding one has been dominated by sleazy accusations and insinuations. Allegations, lies and scandalous behavior abound. This negative exercise in outdoing the opposition is attracting the wrong political clientele. It is itself radical and angry and drives the candidates into a downward spiral of extremism.

In Florida, 90 percent of Mitt Romney’s television spots consisted of negative statements about his opponents. Surveys show that such rage is slowly but surely driving voters toward Obama. Voters may think Obama’s also bad, but they know he’s not really as bad as the ads portray him.

So Obama is playing the Rumpelstiltskin card before he even has to start campaigning. And it reveals that negative campaigning doesn’t really pay. People want to hear a message with which they can identify; an uplifting message that gives them hope. They don’t want to hear messages that do nothing but raise their blood pressure.

Bill Clinton was a man with a positive message and even George W. Bush is remembered for his cheerful disposition, especially when he’s compared to a relatively grumpy Al Gore. Romney will have to experience a difficult personality change if he hopes to trump Obama’s refreshing message of change. Romney’s party has been the source of too much destruction to quickly cast off its grouchy image.

GOP is the American acronym for the Republican Party. It stands for Grand Old Party. These days, however, it seems to stand for Grumpy Old Party.