I’m not a particularly political animal but the latest round of presidential candidates vying to be ‘the man’ (or woman) for the Republicans in the next presidential election, has definitely caught my interest.
By the people, for the people
I’m not an American so I can’t vote in their elections, and to be honest I don’t fully understand all the workings of their political system, but I have become fascinated by the way in which candidates are treated by the public, by the press and by each other. The insults being thrown around, speculation about this one’s eligibility, questioning of that one’s capabilities and so forth; it really is the ultimate reality television show, keeping us tuned in to see who will outwit, outlast and outplay the rest of the field.
The ‘In Crowd’
The defining characteristic of this particular race has been the battle between the establishment (career politicians) and the outsiders (business people, doctors, etc.) and leading the pack from the get go has been Donald Trump. Much has been said as to why Mr Trump and the other ‘outsiders’ have taken such a strong and enduring lead in this process. Many commentators suggest that the American public are disillusioned with Washington, politicians and government in general and the likes of Donald Trump, Carly Fiorina, Ben Carson and to some extend Senator Ted Cruz (a politician seen as an outsider) offer a welcome change from the status quo.
The question that seems to stump most people is why, while other candidates are struggling to gather support, Donald Trump is able to make the polarising, blunt and at times hugely controversial comments that he does without seeming to shock anyone in his audience and still have people in their masses supporting his bid to be the candidate for the next presidential election.
Swings and Round-abouts
When Ben Carson’s honesty was questioned over details about his education and experiences growing up, his numbers in the polls took a nosedive. When Donald Trump was called out by the media over his comments regarding Muslims celebrating when the World Trade Center fell, his numbers hardly changed. Both candidates were challenged over their honesty and integrity but the public seems to hold one more accountable than the other.
I believe this has something to do with familiarity, or at least perceived familiarity. Before this candidacy race began I would hazard a guess that the majority of Americans were unfamiliar with most of the individuals stepping forward. Mr Trump, however, was a whole different kettle of fish. He’s not just a very successful business person but a celebrity whose life has been documented in the press, followed on news broadcasts and whose way of doing business, dealing with people and conducting himself has been displayed on televisions internationally thanks to the reality TV show ‘The Apprentice’.
All of these things have led to a level of familiarity. When Donald Trump insults a fellow candidate it’s not surprising because he’s done the same on numerous occasions on television. When he seems to exaggerate a claim or is sketchy on details, it’s excused because that’s just his ‘usual’ way. The reason why people seem not to be shocked by much of what he says is because making shocking statements is what Donald Trump does and anyone who has watched him for any length of time knows this. The same cannot be said of the other candidates. When another individual makes a slip or says something unwise, their whole character is called into question as though a single mistake is an indication that they aren’t who people initially thought they were. It seems as though the old adage of ‘better the devil you know, than the devil you don’t’ is working well in Donald Trump’s favour.
What you see is what you get
When it comes to trusting people in any sphere, but especially those leading our countries, we like to feel that we know the whole story. Even if the story isn’t always the prettiest or most attractive, we’d rather know what we’re dealing with upfront than be surprised by something unexpected along the way. Transparency and consistent behaviour build a sense of confidence that otherwise would be difficult to establish. Jesus taught us that we should let our “yes” be yes and our “no” be no rather than making grand promises that we can’t keep. Imagine a world where leaders and politicians lived according to this life philosophy.
Watch this space
With a few more months to go before America goes to the polls I will continue to watch this process with interest. America plays a pivotal role on the world’s stage and her Commander in Chief has a significant contribution to make in global matters. I pray that whoever is elected, whether Democrat or Republican, establishment or outsider, they have the wisdom needed to do the job well. The bible tells us that God establishes authority and leaders and that we should pray for those in leadership. It seems apt then that the motto of the United States doesn’t look to man but declares ‘In God we Trust’.
Have you been following the build up to these elections? I’d love to know your thoughts on the race so far and who you think is likely to be the winning candidate.