“You know you can’t win. No matter who you vote for, the government always gets in.” — The Bonzo Dog Band
The great author and critic Chris Hedges not long ago wrote a book titled “The Triumph of Spectacle, the Death of Literacy.”
The title seems even more appropriate in describing journalists’ coverage of the 2020 presidential election.
I have seen over the years the deterioration of political campaigns into the abyss of celebrity journalism. There seems to be little thoughtful discussion about serious issues that face us, but instead a boatload of distractions with meaningless drivel, clever one-liners that solve no problems and catchy phrases that do not advance anything of value.
One of the best examples of this bloody awful phenomenon is the constant coverage of appearances by candidate surrogates, which in 1980 earned a lot of deserved scorn but these days has passed for a staple in “news.”
I have grown exceedingly weary of local newspapers and broadcast media breathlessly covering appearances by Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, Jill Biden and other surrogates speaking on behalf of family members. Add to that “rock star” Barack Obama and other celebrities hawking the superficial political positions of their fave raves.
If I were king of the journalism trade, I would limit coverage of political speeches to the candidates themselves and their running mates. I think a lot of others would agree in the face of too much political news and political advertisements invading our spaces every couple of years.
I agree that getting rid of the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision would help, but that’s not going to happen because just like the weather, everybody talks about it, but nobody does anything about it.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll repeat, we the American people have been conned into regarding our lawmakers and political leaders as celebrities. It’s like whenever State Reps. Mary Whiteford or Steve Johnson (sans mask) show up to any public function to get their photo taken or to be treated like some kind of rock star because of who they are. They show up for one reason and one reason only — to get re-elected.
I’ve been known to commit the crime of cropping these publicity hungry leeches out of photos very simply because they had very little if anything to do with the reason for the picture being taken. I refuse to be used and manipulated for their gain.
About 25 years ago, State Rep. Bob Bender of Middleville, generally a good guy, was asked to show up for a March of Dimes Walk starting at a park in Hastings. His first question was, “Is the press going to be there?”
He showed up, winged it by saying a few perky and positive words, and after the photo and marchers began their journey, he left smiling in his car. Mission accomplished.
I remember then-State Senator Patty Birkholz appearing at Delton Elementary to get her picture taken reading to the kiddies. My assistant editor said that this photo and incident will be the highlight of these children’s lives. I replied that I was sorry their lives were so worthless that something like this would be their greatest memory.
Until we can find a way to get money out of politics, to stop treating politicians like celebrities and find a way to restore some kind of truth in advertising law to govern those misleading, lying and bloody awful melodramatic ads, we will simply sit back and helplessly watch our so-called democracy or republic continue its journey down the cesspool.
Comedian Woody Allen once said that 80% of life is just showing up. Politicians know this all too well.
I bet you were pissing your pants in anticipation of Hubert Humphrey coming to the high school in 1964! A good little Democrat (as most were in the audience) and happy to have the V.P. in your midsts.
Remember what he said “Make sure your parents vote Democrat on election day”!