As we come down the home stretch of this presidential election, every indication we have seems to say that this will be a photo finish. The traditional gauges, polls and the debates mean much less in this race than in the past. Politics has increasingly become part of our everyday lives.
All one has to do is look at the Vote for Change concert series to see this. Artists such as Dave Matthews and Bruce Springsteen, once loath to identify with particular parties or candidates, are now jumping into the mix.
In terms of public opinion, the debates provided a little sway, but not much. Round one was won by Kerry, and Bush looked disaffected and confused. Rounds two and three were draws, as were the vice presidential debates.
It was little noticed, but the vice president took a shot at showing the world he actually has a heart when he mentioned that (gasp) he was part of a union, he has been unemployed, and that he has been injured and without health insurance. (Not that he ever worries about these things anymore or with respect to anyone else.) He delivered these lines at the end of his time limit and in his traditional mumbling way.
This election is clearly one of the biggest and most divisive of all time. When can anyone
recall having a movie in mainstream theatres, including our own, Fairfield Cinemas, featuring a presidential candidate, such as in Going Upriver: The Long Story of John Kerry? On the other hand, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, which wouldn’t air Nightline when Ted Koppell read the names of the fallen in Iraq, is broadcasting a smarmy anti-Kerry film, Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal, commercial free in the middle of primetime. And, mind you, this isn’t a lowly collection of VHF stations. Rather, some of these stations are network affiliates found in the middle of some of the most important swing states.
I think it is pathetic of the Right to try and hijack viewers televisions and cram their messages down America’s throat. This is no doubt, partially in response to the undeniable success of Michael Moore’s blistering documentary Fahrenheit 9/11.
This is a movie that made over 100 million dollars despite not having one of the major studios pushing it. When it was released on October 5, Fahrenheit 9 /11 sold about 2 million copies according to industry estimates. People have paid to see and own this film; they didn’t have to have their regular broadcasting interrupted for it.
The abundance of media produced about both candidates is sure to have an impact in terms of voter participation. An uptick far greater than the 1992 Clinton-Bush-Perot is going to be seen.
I also think that the importance of city vote compared to suburb vote is going to shift in favor of the cities again. Women, minority and youth vote will all swing upwards. America is waking up and realizing that politics is central to all aspects of life. It is about time this apathetic democracy was taken by the reigns and called to task. Now, go and do yours: vote.
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