Opinion: Get serious America

PJ: I included this column because it captures the opinion of what so many around the world think about the 2012 presidential race.

NJ.com
The Times of Trenton op-ed

The latest reality show: The presidential race
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

The presidency of the United States was once a position coveted by those of profound accomplishment. Generals, former holders of high political office, captains of industry all sought the country's most powerful seat because they were capable of drawing on life experiences, having weathered military conflict, economic stress and social unrest.

In today's tumultuous world, where America is the last great superpower standing, the country's leader has to have broad shoulders, a deep intellect and the backbone to make tough decisions. In the normal course of things, such a person would be someone whose policies were based on tried and tested doctrines; the proverbial center ground, whether somewhat to the right or to the left, but firmly set in common sense; historical precedent; and, where possible, nonconfrontational consensus.

Welcome to the Twilight Zone. Today, the zanier you are, the more likely you stand to draw the media's attention to your presidential run. Out front is "the Donald." Yes, Trump says he's serious this time and he readily touts his wondrous credentials: multiple bankruptcy filings and divorces; no prior political office; a reputation for browbeating anyone who questions his authority; and serious reality show experience. His political platform is as astute and intellectual his casino performers. No more imports from China, he yells. We can't let those guys take over our country. I guess we can now discard our Keynesian texts and do away with all those economic advisers at the Treasury and in the West Wing.

Sarah Palin is yet another rising weird one who's been circling Iowa and New Hampshire. Having cut her teeth as mayor of Wasilla, Ala., population 7,000, she reached the governor's mansion, where she remained in deserved obscurity until presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., had a senior moment and decided to seal the fate of his campaign by adding her to the ticket. After all, she is nice-looking, and it's not as if anyone ever expected her to do anything for the campaign other than pose with McCain for opportune photo shots. It's nice, when you're 72, to have a young lady on your arm. Problem was, she actually took interviews and showed the world the breadth of her intellect. The rest, as they say, is history.

Not to be outdone by that tall brunette, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., found her own short cut to Fox News fame by embracing the fledgling Tea Party. The new Tea-Leader was front and center delivering a response to the State of the Union, although she couldn't actually coordinate her pose with the cameraman. Her credentials are somewhere between the Donald and Palin: She won her third term in the House, but never held statewide office. She supports the superficial, boilerplate mantra of "cut, baby, cut" without sweating the mundane details surrounding intelligent, long-term economic planning or social welfare. Those are things the faithless liberals seemingly worry about. In Tea-land, it's all about making sure the rich get richer so they can continue to fund the movement. The die-hard party faithful who actually vote in primaries have already ordered the "Draft Michele" buttons, and Bachmann is playing to the choir.

If this all weren't happening, it would make for good fiction. But this is really happening. Modern politics has morphed into reality TV, with the crowd cheering on the more bizarre aspirants. America needs to snap out of this dangerous trance and recognize that legitimizing a candidate for the presidency who is woefully unqualified is a substantial threat that could cause untold damage to our national security, our economy and our storied way of life. We can't simply change the channel if we don't like the show. It's time to get serious, America.

Howard Kleinhendler is an attorney with Wachtel and Masyr LLP. He was the 2010 Democratic nominee for Congress in New Jersey's 4th Congressional District.

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