Tim Walz as VP Choice: Image vs. Policies

 

I have gotten some feedback in which arguments were made extolling Tim Walz as Kamala Harris’ VP choice. I have listened, and understand why, as a person and even as a politician, he is exemplary. However, I still am not convinced Walz was the best choice for a Vice President candidate.

 As much as I appreciate his background as a teacher, military officer, and governor, as well as his  social service bent, I think Harris would be better served with a younger, more articulate running mate, such as Pete Buttigieg. I realize that Buttigieg is not electable, as I have been reminded, due to his being gay, which is unfortunate. In the future, when younger Americans have a bit more presence in day-to-day politics, one’s sexual orientation will not be such a hindrance to being elected.

 In today’s fast-paced world of sound bites and personality politics, voters often take short cuts in voting. Some study a candidate’s policy proposals; however, most rely on other factors to make their voting choices. The reason I feel strongly that Tim Walz is not an ideal choice is that ever since the 1960 presidential debate between Kennedy and Nixon, policies have given way to image as far as electability. The hierarchy of voting preference goes like this: Party, Person, Policy - in that order, because most people vote Party first because it represents their tribe, thinking that their tribe will best represent their interests (https://www.quora.com/Do-voters-care-much-more-about-the-personality-of-the-person-they-vote-for-or-about-the-policies-of-the-person-they-vote-for).

 A candidate’s personality comes second in voting preference, while their policies come in dead last.  Therefore, if Harris had chosen a younger, more photogenic running mate, regardless of her/his policies and background, she would have made a better choice, in my opinion. For example, in the famous Kennedy/Nixon debate (which I watched on TV as a child), Kennedy looked youthful, photogenic, and energetic, while Nixon looked pale and tired, with a five o’clock shadow beard. Nixon’s running mate, Henry Cabot Lodge, watched the debate on TV, and lamented that Nixon had lost the election for the Republicans. Lyndon Johnson, Kennedy’s running mate, who heard the debate on the radio, thought Kennedy had lost the debate. Presidential debates became an election fixture in 1980, after the GOP challenger, Ronald Reagan, used a strong debate performance just a week before the election to win by a comfortable margin over Carter.  (https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-debate-that-changed-the-world-of-politics).

 Image trumps the person and their policies. Donald Trump is a master at crafting an image, and in so doing has merged image and personality, the main focus of his campaign. Who knows what his policies really are?  If Harris and Walz rely on standard debate rhetoric, they may lose the debate, even if they would win the debate on the strength of content and arguments. I have no doubt that Harris will win the debate over Trump, though it could be close, due to Trump’s personality cult. I suggest that Walz dye his hair, get a face lift, and practice crafting his best television image. ( Not serious here. Just making a  point.) Of course, Walz is debating J. D. Vance, who may be younger with a more palatable TV image. No matter what Vance says, his image is more youthful and photogenic than Walz’s image. However, Vance’s personality may do him in. Personality and image seem inseparable on our current political horizon.

 

Where Have I Been?

 

It has been a year since I have written a blog post. Some may wonder what happened. Others may not have noticed the absence of my infrequent blogs. It is a bit difficult to explain. Let me just say that I was told I had to move from my home a year ago, and spent eight months looking for a new place. Asheville is a tough housing market. I have a place now, though it is far from what I want and need. Now I feel a little bit settled again, and am setting out once again to blog.

Today since the election is drawing near, I want to  say that I am happy that Kamala Harris is now the Democratic candidate for president. A woman president is long overdue in this country. I am a little shaky, though, on fully endorsing Tim Walz for VP, although he seems like a wholesome pick--a National Guard reservist, former schoolteacher, and all-around good guy. I am unsure if the younger demographic will warm up to him, though. I would have much preferred to see my fellow Hoosier, Pete Buttigieg, as VP. He is young, brilliant, moral to a fault, former Naval officer, and also an all-around good guy. Perhaps his being gay may have hurt his chances with mainstream Americans, yet I think the younger generation may not have viewed that unfavorably. Let’s face it. Youth will make or break this election as they did with Barak Obama’s election.

There is always the unpleasant reality that Republicans will continue gerrymandering, and purging poor folks from the voting rolls, and  interfering with balloting at the polls, as they have done in the past. That could swing the election toward Trump, unfortunately.

At this point, who knows what will happen. And since big money is the underlying controlling force in politics, whichever candidate kowtows to big donors, will have the advantage in the race. The media has gotten increasingly conservative, even reactionary in certain cases. Everyday Americans are extremely influenced by media, especially Fox News with its reactionary agenda and support of Trump. Even major news media like The Washington Post that we could always count on to give accurate, fair reporting, has taken a Trump-ward bent, probably due to its new owner, Jeff Bezos. Not to mention that the Wall Street Journal and New York Post are both owned by Australian billionaire Rupert Murdock, who is also behind the Fox News Network. Whoever controls the media, controls public opinion.

This presidential race will be interesting to watch. While I support the Democratic ticket, I am more in favor of overhauling partisan politics in general, especially getting big money out of it entirely and out of our hair.