Lipstick on a pig, Jerry Springer politics and what it's really all about

Lipstick on a Pig, Jerry Springer Politics and What It's Really All About


We're living in a Jerry Springer world. While we have vital issues to address on where this country is headed, we have a media going crazy over whether or not Barack Obama called Sarah Palin a pig in a recent speech. Is this really what you care about? Is this really what you'll base your decision on? It is a distraction, pure and simple, and it's working. Do you really care that Palin's daughter is pregnant or if she's had an affair? Do you really care that McCain's wife had a drug problem? Do you really care if Obama once wore traditional Kenyan garb when he visited Africa or that he didn't wear a flag pin once? Is that really what you'll base your vote upon?

"Look over there, there's another really shiny thing!" says the media. And we all go Ooooooo! I'm just as guilty as the rest of us. It's fascinating watching all the gooey details of other people's lives. It makes us feel normal. It makes us feel superior. BUT, it also distracts us from our own best interests. It distracts us from the real issues of this election. We need to stop, before we make another mistake, like George W. Bush.

We got duped the past few elections and bought into the fact that the election was about Gay marriage, abortion and swiftboats. We dropped the ball in our fascination with all things "Jerry Springer". Kerry "looked French", Gore was "stuffy" and George Bush was "someone you'd want to have a beer with". I don't know about you, but, there are a lot of people I'd like to have a beer with, but I wouldn't want them as president. I want the smartest guys out there. I want someone who actually has a different path in mind and a way to get us there. For some reason, intelligent and educated became a bad thing in a leader. Perhaps that's one of the reasons our children are falling so hopelessly behind in education, compared with the rest of the world.

One of my online friends said, "I want the smartest MF-ers in the room!" And I agree.

But, how do we go about changing that? Fight the media? Good luck with that. They are focused on the bottom line and that bottom line tells them that we LOVE our Jerry Springer world. And we do. The only way we are going to change the dialog in this country is one on one. Friend to friend; family to family; neighbor to neighbor; colleague to colleague.

So, how do you go about that? By being educated. Knowing what Obama's plans are and subtly introducing the issues and stances into our everyday conversations with our friends, family, neighbors and colleagues. You don't win friends or debates with "you're stupid if you believe…."

When your neighbor says, "Man, I just filled up my car and it cost…" You say, "Did you know that Obama wants to invest $150 billion over the next 10 years for renewable energy and the jobs it will create?" or " Did you know Obama wants to give every family a $1000 energy tax credit to offset those costs until his solution kicks in?"

When a friend asks a question about Obama or makes a statement like "He doesn't have a plan." Tell them that he does have a plan and either tell the plan or find out for them. It's fairly easy to find all of Obama's positions. It's all on his website: www.barackobama.com

Don't let it slide.

When someone you know asks you what you think about "lipstickgate" or whatever the latest juicy dirt is, call it what it is, a distraction. Say what you think about the latest dirt, then turn it around back to the issues. I'll give you an example:

Anne Fellowworker says, "What do you think about lipstickgate?"

You: "It's a common phrase that many republicans have used over and over without being accused of sexism. But, it's really a distraction isn't it? I mean with 62,000 jobs lost last month and the stock market plunging and so many people losing their homes, shouldn't we be talking about that? Obama wants to invest in renewable energy thereby creating 5 million NEW jobs!"

The only way that we will get the change that so many people in this country want is to change the way we talk to people. We must be the change.

So, here's an offer from me, since I know most of you don't have the time or the desire to be a political junkie like me, anything you want information on. Any issue that you want to know about, or need information on, ask. I will do my best to give you the information, or find it for you. I will do my best to get you the best sources of information. All I ask for in return is that you change that dialog with your friends and family. And that when you hear of the next juicy thing, you call it what it is…distraction from the McCain/Palin record and their lack of solutions.

Don't prove the McCain campaign right in stating that this election isn't about issues.

"This election is not about issues. This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates.", Rick Davis, campaign manager for John McCain.

Because in the end, it's the changes that need to be made in this country that's the real issue and that's really what it's all about, right?