AMERICA AND ROME

Obama claims Mitt Romney did not back Detroit or Jeep in their fight to keep jobs and stay in the red.  He claims Mr. Romney would rather have jobs in China than in the United States.  In a blurb of said commercial, the President even has Romney saying, “Let Detroit go bankrupt now.”  The add goes on to say that even the conservative Detroit news criticized Romney for his, “wrong-headedness on the auto bail out.”  Aggressive claims to be sure, and very damaging if true.  It certainly points in the direction of truth when House Speaker John Boehner on Sunday said he was "very confident" that Mitt Romney will win his home state of Ohio, but acknowledged that the auto bailout has helped the president with some voters here. Romney is doing well in Ohio. You know, polls don't decide elections, voters do," the speaker said, though he later added "the auto bailout may help the president in Ohio a little. But when you look at polling, it wouldn't indicate that that's had much of a factor at all," he continued. "Enthusiasm is on our side."  It would seem that even the most casual observer would be able to read between the lines of that quote.  Romney is in trouble in Ohio.

            Or is he?

            What does the popularity and effectiveness of political attack advertisements reveal about popular culture beliefs and values?   Apparently nothing and everything, especially in the case of the truth.

            In what appears to be a clear cut case of one man being “wrong”, as in protecting the citizens and businesses of this country, Mitt Romney, in this case, seems to have been caught with his hands in the cookie jar.  A solid blow landed by the President in which the Romney camp has no clear cut response and even House Speaker Boehner had all but declared the state of Ohio Obama’s due to his hand in helping the American people.

            Two questions come to mind:  Why has the President not pursued to expose this course of almost certainly tantalizing attack and why are the American people not more interested?

            No one is saying the Mr. Romney was wrong, bankruptcy may have gotten these car companies out of the jam they are in, but we know for certain President Obama’s stimulus plan did get them out of trouble.  It is a very simple equation.  Romney’s plan was the very opposite of the President’s and it was the President’s plan which came out with flying colors.

            So we ask again what dies the popularity and effectiveness of political attack advertisements reveal about popular culture?  Are the masses of the Untied States just like the mob of Rome?  Willing to be led by the nose?  Would we rather hear of a fight about taxing the rich, a Medicare plan that never comes to fruition, abortion or a never ending war on terrorism?  Apparently.  Although there has mention been made of the afore mentioned automobile disagreement, the latter subject reign supreme in the world of debate, both in front of the camera’s and behind them.

            Subjects that will not be answered in our lifetimes rule the forums of politics much more so than the real issues at hand.  Politicians attack just to attack for that is a mob mentality, not a societal one.  If the mob is fickle, then so must the candidates be, and if the mob is hungry for a subject, however wayward, then that subject will be pursued at all costs.

            We turn our heads in the face of light and truth, and, just as we cheer two men in a ring punching each other with fists, so we enjoy two politicians behind podiums, punching each other with words.  After all, did not the mob enjoy its gladiators?