Parallels of Elections Past
In the eight years preceding the election of 1960, a Republican occupied the White House. During Eisenhower’s second term, the nation became mired in a nasty recession, and presaging a turn toward the out-of-power party, Democrats made dramatic gains in the mid-term elections of 1958. In 1960, the Democrats nominated a 43 year old Catholic to head their ticket, who in turn had to overcome voter unease about his religion and dearth of experience in world affairs. To Kennedy fell the task of reassuring the nation that it need not be concerned about his Catholic convictions and relationship with the Pope. To Richard Nixon fell the task of demonstrating that Kennedy was too inexperience in world affairs to occupy the Oval office during the Cold War. When Kennedy debated Nixon and held his own, committed no gaffs, and outclassed his more experienced opponent, he closed the sale and was elected the 35th President of the United States.
In the four years preceding the election of 1980, a democrat occupied the White House. During President Carter’s term the nation suffered two oil shocks; inflation, interest rates and unemployment were in double digits and the country was mired in malaise. Presaging a turn toward the out-of-power party, Republicans made dramatic gains in the mid-term elections of 1978. In 1980, the Republicans nominated a 69 year old divorced and brashly conservative movie actor to head their ticket, who in turn had to overcome voter unease about his divorce and dearth of experience in world affairs. To Reagan fell the task of reassuring the nation that a divorce and age should not disqualify one from public life; that a market-oriented and more conservative approach to the economic malaise was the right prescription. To Jimmy Carter fell the task of demonstrating that Reagan was too dangerous in his views and too inexperience in world affairs to occupy the Oval office. When Reagan debated Carter and held his own, committed no gaffs, and outclassed his more experienced opponent, he closed the sale and was elected the 40th President of the United States.
In the eight years preceding the election of 2008, a Republican has occupied the White House during an unpopular war, skyrocketing energy prices and during the past month, the worst economic turmoil seen since the great depression. Presaging a turn toward the out-of-power party, Democrats made dramatic gains in the mid-term elections of 2006. This year, the Democrats nominated a 47 year old African-American, who in turn has to overcome voter unease about his race, background and dearth of experience in world affairs. To Obama falls the task of reassuring the nation that it need not be concerned about his patriotism, past associations and left of center views. To John McCain falls the task of demonstrating that Obama is too inexperienced in world affairs to occupy the Oval office during a time of terrorism and economic turmoil. In the first two debates, Obama held his own, committed no gaffs, and outclassed his more experienced opponent. McCain has one more chance to prove Obama dangerously uninformed, dangerously inexperienced and far too liberal to occupy the Oval Office. If he does not do that on Wednesday night, its three strikes you’re out.
