John McCain: The -Istful Candidate

If John McCain and his surrogates want to paint Barack Obama as a socialist, then they have some other “-ist” designations they should be throwing around instead.

How about populist? Ah, yes, a discourse that supports the people rather than the elite. Yes, they tried to present Obama as an elitist, but it seems that a majority of the populace is leaning toward this McCain-proclaimed socialist-elitist.

And how about that whole “pallin’ around with terrorists” rhetoric? Terrorism is defined as “the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.” Hmm…what politician would intimidate others and incite violence to achieve political aims? Shouts of “terrorist” and “off with his head” and “kill him” –heard at McCain campaign rallies--are certainly examples of violence and intimidation tactics. Yet, the authors of these unprecedented epithets, who Senator McCain simply calls “nuts,” are often addressed by the Senator himself as the ubiquitous “my friends.” Well, Senator McCain, if your friends are shouting “kill him” and “off with his head” to advance your political aims, aren’t you, essentially, palling around with terrorists?

We could get to the Muslim and Arab charge for Senator Obama, but neither of those end in “-ist,” so to stay with my theme, I’d like to bring up a religion which has not been brought up regarding Senator Obama, but which I believe is applicable. A Taoist is one who follows the traditional religious and philosophical views of Taoism. Written by Lao Tsu, one of the tenets of the Tao is the following:

“The Tao of heaven is to take from those who have too much
And give to those who do not have enough.
Man’s way is different.
He takes from those who do not have enough
To give to those who already have too much.
What man has more than enough and gives it to the world?
Only the man of Tao.”

It sounds to me like Senator Obama is more of a pacifist, Taoist populist than the terrorist-socialist-Muslim-elitist that Senator McCain’s campaign is attempting to portray him.

It’s insightful that Lao Tsu saw the flawed nature of Man, nearly 25 centuries ago, and the peaceful ways that man could adapt in order to benefit the world. However, it’s unfortunate that in our post-9/11, post-Bush, McCain v. Obama 2008 society, Lao Tsu, a revolutionary philosopher and religious figure, would merely be branded a “Socialist Elitist” unfit to rule a country of mere Men. The next President of the United States will have to pave the way for man’s adaptation to the new world of the 21st century that we find ourselves living in, for the continued benefit of all its inhabitants. Therefore, I’ll be voting for the candidate running on the pro-American Humanist platform. Can someone point me in the right direction? Because I’m quickly turning into a rapidly growing American pessimist.