The presidential campaign, we must hope, is about more than an empty chair and an actor whose star power was momentarily dimmed by an ill-practiced performance.
Who doesn’t love Clint Eastwood? Whether it’s his “Man with No Name” spaghetti Western performances or his amazing acting and directing in movies such as “Unforgiven” or “Million Dollar Baby,” Eastwood is a cherished part of the American experience.
But an eloquent public speaker on a national stage he is not.
Eastwood’s strange performance just before Mitt Romney’s acceptance of the GOP nomination was quite odd even if at times it rose to the level of entertainment. He got a few jabs in at President Obama, which one would expect from any political gathering like a party convention. But he also rambled to an empty chair that represented Obama, and that gave Romney’s detractors an opportunity to become distracters.
Obama’s campaign tweeted an image shot from the back of a chair in which Obama sat. On the back of the chair, a brass plate said “president.” The campaign said “This seat’s taken.”
Ha ha ha. Riveting political commentary.
Presidential races aren’t won or lost on the basis of party conventions, although they certainly play a significant role in defining a candidate’s message to the largest national audience.
Indeed, these days I wonder if Americans watch party conventions the same way they often get their television news — by watching content primarily geared to support their preconceptions.
How many liberal Democrats tuned in to watch the Republican convention with an open mind about the messages presented? How many conservative Republicans will watch the Democratic convention with an ear tuned for something they might agree with?
Not many, I suspect.
The conventions are nowadays highly choreographed affairs that serve little purpose in the national pursuit of the presidency. But they do serve as the fuel of inspiration needed for the final weeks of campaigning when many Americans really, really start paying attention because they know a decision is on the horizon.
Just as all the “speech of his life” descriptions about Romney’s acceptance were hyperbole, so is all the talk about how this presidential election is the most important decision of our lifetimes.
Every presidential election is the most important political decision of our lifetimes in that moment. Such decisions should be approached very carefully.
But it matters a great deal, too — and perhaps even more so — who gets elected on down the ticket. Congressmen, senators, state lawmakers, local justices of the peace and aldermen all play critical roles in the direction of our communities and nations. These are all decisions worth devoting time and energy to, not just walking in the polling place on election day and voting for the (R) or the (D).
Between now and Election Day, all Americans should devote themselves to reading as many articles and visiting as many websites as possible to come to a greater understanding of the candidates they will choose Nov. 6. Yes, it’s work, but our country and communities deserve it.
Locally, it’s not that hard to get out and actually meet the candidates face to face. Ask them questions. Pick their brains. Make them prove that they have what it takes to lead and that their ideas can withstand public scrutiny.
If you don’t like what you’re hearing, why not start thinking about two years from now and whether you’re the right person for the job?
Don’t give your vote away based on a 30-second commercial. Or an actor’s on-stage improvisation. Or the 45-second collection of sound bites on the local TV news. Actually, 45 seconds these days would probably be considered an in-depth piece.
We’ve got about nine weeks left to make a collection of critically important decisions. Is it worth devoting at least as much time and energy to that decision as we put into learning about the Hogs and their next opponent?
Greg Harton is editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times.