The Exotic Candidate Is The One With Eight Houses

"It is possible," Gore Vidal once wrote, "for any citizen with time to spare, and a canny eye, to work out what is actually going on, but for the many there is not time, and the network news is the only news even though it may not be news at all but only a series of flashing fictions."

The barbecue media script for this election, a work of unabridged fiction and co-written by the modern Rove Republicans, has crow-barred Senator Obama into the incongruous frame of the exotic effete elitist, irrespective of the fact that, on all counts, he's absolutely none of those things. It's the same script that's been wheeled out during the last several presidential elections -- designed as a way of sculpting reality into a neatly packaged prime time dramatic narrative that both reinforces and exploits fear-based stereotypes.

This week, for example, Cokie Roberts and Michael Crowley, along with a creepy monster squad of Republican stalkers, have been trying to peg Senator Obama's vacation in Hawaii as proof that the script is accurate. Hawaii, they say, is only for exotic elitists. Senator Obama is in Hawaii. Therefore, Senator Obama is an exotic elitist. See how that works?

Never mind that this Hawaii-is-exotic-and-elitist gripe came from a not-elitist millionaire with the not-exotic name "Cokie." This Cokie phenomenon is a solid example of the script's paradoxical, fictitious awfulness. Despite similar griping from the McBush Republicans, the truth is that Senator McCain is far and away the more elitist and exotic of the two candidates. Fact. No bias here.

Let's start with Hawaii and do the list.

Senator McCain met and fell in love with his current wife, Cindy Hensley, while on vacation in... exotic and elitist Hawaii. He was 42, she was 24. He was still married to his first wife at the time, who was disabled as the result of a car accident, by the way. The whole scene -- Hawaii, cheating on a disabled wife with a super-rich beer heiress -- is just about as exotic and elitist as it gets according to the standards of the script.

So... Cokie?

For the sake of contrast, Senator Obama and Mrs. Obama's biography as a couple is about as ordinary and traditional as Americana itself. No weird cheating or ugly divorces. No trophy heiress nearly half his age. Just an ordinary American love story. How the barbecue media and far-right talk radio has managed to spin the Obamas as the African-American version of Mickey & Mallory is one of the most wicked examples of dishonesty from this dark ride -- worthy of the most backwards of Karl Rove's non-reality-based conspiracies against the truth.

Cindy McCain's beer distributorship pulls in upwards of $300 million annually. Hardly relatable to the middle and working class families who are losing their homes to foreclosure -- one of many consequences of the last 30 years of the Republican war on the middle class. So it's not a stretch to suggest that being married to a woman whose family business is worth a quarter of a billion dollars is -- what's the word? -- unusual? Atypical? Irregular? How about exotic?

Such cash allows for certain not-elitist and not-exotic perks. A private jet for example. According to Mrs. McCain, getting around Arizona is hard work so thank goodness the McCains have their own jet. Just like you and me and the Obamas, right? But maybe it's unfair to badger the McCains about their personal jet airplane. How else are they going to travel around to their eight houses (this one, for example). Walk? Drive a car? That's just silly talk. Senator McCain would totally ruin his not-elitist and not-exotic $520 Italian shoes engaging in such an effort. Then what would he wear while he's hosting SNL or visiting the set of a movie he's appearing in? Jelly shoes from Payless? Yeah right. Try installing Senator McCain's lifts inside of those hideous things.

The only truly "ordinary" thing about Senator McCain is that his first name is "John" (there are just over 5 million guys named "John" in the United States, so they win this one). He's also white. Really, really white. Like, squishy subterranean cave dweller white.

Yet irrespective of what white, upper-class Republicans or Mark Penn or Very Serious Mark Halperin or Pat Buchanan might think, Senator Obama quite literally looks like 21st Century America. Mixed-culture, mixed-heritage, middle class roots. Senator Obama, in terms of his racial composition and family history, has more in common with average Americans than just about any modern Republican presidential nominee.

The only way he's not is if somehow we've been transported into an episode of Leave It To Beaver -- or if by "America" the Republicans and the barbecue media mean to suggest "Kentucky." Even with that as a qualification, half of Senator Obama's racial composition is rooted in rural Kansas. His parents were divorced. He barely knew his biological father.

Now, Cokie, drive down (or have your driver take you) to the nearest Wal-Mart. Line up 100 people and ask them whether they can relate to a man who owns eight houses and whose wife is a gazillionaire, or if they can relate to a man who represents the American melting pot -- a man who just recently paid off his student loans -- a man who was raised by a single mother -- a man who is (shock horror!) still happily married to his only wife. Then drive back (or have your driver take you) down to ABC's Newseum studio this Sunday and look directly into the This Week cameras tell us that Senator Obama is the more exotic or elitist of the two candidates.

And that goes for you, too, Buchanan. (Pat Buchanan has recently been engaging in some concern-trolling by wondering aloud, "Why can't Senator Obama close the deal?" This is one of Buchanan's more subversive race-baiting tricks. The answer he's begging is very likely his favorite lamentation about the senator: "Because he's too exotic.")

The modern Republicans have hijacked the label "real American" and stapled it onto the foreheads of a platoon of phonies. George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Mitt Romney, John Sidney McCain, Rush Limbaugh. Hell, even the poster boy for this hillbilly dark ride, Larry the Cable Guy, is a fraud in redneck drag. And the very serious barbecue media has accepted this trickery as reality because it fits perfectly into their antiquated election year narrative.

Throughout the course of this seemingly interminable election cycle, it's been well-documented by various blogotubers that the key to winning this election will be to fight the barbecue media's script -- to debunk the "series of flashing fictions." I would suggest that reversing this "exotic elitist" frame is, to borrow a familiar phrase, a central front in the war on the barbecue media. In the case of Senator Obama, reality is on our side. It's simply a matter of repeating the reality until the script is slowly immolated and the truth rises to the surface. And in the process, perhaps the barbecue media will begin to realize that the modern liberal movement has more in common with "average Americans" than any fraud or flimflam artist the Republicans have dropped onto the stage.

Bob Cesca's Goddamn Awesome Blog! Go!

Comments

[racetoinfinity]

Bob - I see this post is 8 days old - you got your wish - thank God - someone asked McCain how many homes he has yesterday - and it's caused a stir in the "barbecue media". The meme that McCain is a ''regular guy" is now being challenged - it's about time!

(I'm still trying to figure out what you mean by "barbecue media".
I'm assuming: white (mostly), upper-middle-class, Lexus/BMW driving, privileged, suburban living, children in private schools, careerist, incestous/insular [chummy with each other, not much contact with a wide range of people], corporatist mainstream media?)

[SaddieMcCall]

Did you hear him being asked yesterday how many homes he owns and he stated that he didn't know, and that he would have to ask his staff and get back to the questioner. His staff keeps track of his personal information that he can't remember?

[heywhat]

Having eight homes and meeting your wife in Hawaii means you are rich not that you are necessarily an elitist. One can be dead dog poor and still be an elitist. Neither of these candidates has any idea what it is like to be an American living below the poverty line without insurance or a 401k. Nor do they know what it is like to count your pennies - literally - to buy a gallon of gas. Bill Clinton may have made $100 million in the last eight years (some day former President Obama will, too) but I still believe he "feels my pain." I'm sitting this one out guys - I may see what it takes to write Hil's name in on the CA ballot - and I will most likely sit out the general elections to come. Politics is about getting it for you and yours and then making sure you keep it. I can do that just fine at ground level without going to the ballot box.

http://strictlyanecdotal.com/2008/04/14/elitism-doesnt-have-anything-to-do-with-money.aspx

[Mactastic]

Right, because Barack's mom having to use food stamps makes him unaware of poverty or it's impact on a human being. He has probably felt just as much pain as anyone else. Stop whining and start reading.

[ReelBusy]

More McCain hypocrisy.
I've heard it before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axrgFGZYFzE

Let's have some fun now:
The McCain-Nixon-Bush Tango
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyvJVy_7LYU

[SethBLiNK]

You have to credit the GOP with their ability to go at an opponent's strength. They had AWOL GWB against war hero Kerrey in '04 and won by running on Kerry's war record.

In spite of the fact that we've had a disasterous 8 years with a faux folksy President who is a little too proud of his ignorance, Americans are still ready to doubt a candidate who seems too smart. That they're able to spin his story to make him seem like an out-of-touch child of privilege is just incredible.

Not to stir up the animosity again, but for anybody who questioned why it was wrong for Hillary to wage the kind of campaign that she did when she was all but beaten, this is what it has begotten. Her campaign was the one that started to paint him as an elitist to appeal to white working class voters in Pennsylvania, etc. Her claims showed the effectiveness and continue to lend credence to this line of attack.

[noblereno]

The GOP label Obama with anything they can muster continuing this "he is different - not one of us" attitude. In short - he is black. I am ashamed to be an American when so many are behaving so badly. Pat Buchanan commented some time ago that McCain as President would be like "Bush on steroids". This was a very brief glimplse into the reality even the GOP is aware of. Then the rhetoric and Partisanship returned and Buchanan returned to the party line.

I am voting for Obama because I believe he is our best possible hope for taking a new direction. Sadly, I think Obama will loose the election at the hand of the GOP lie factory and the Clinton's. The behavior of the GOP is reprehensible but the attitude of the Clinton's is beyond that. They will sacrifice Obama so Hillary can come back and run in 2012. She thinks she won the popular vote and the election was "stolen" from her by media bias. In short, the Clinton's will subject this country to four more years of ruinous GOP rule for their personal aspirations.

Our elections, in theory, are a "Democratic" process we want to share with the world. In fact, our elections have become a sham run by Corporate Media who support candidates and a parade of candidates who feel entitled (for one reason or another) to the presidency. This is more like the Academy Awards than a Presidential Election. We should all be ashamed

[mssisyphus]

I agree that the Democratic party is going to be in trouble if Hillary insists her name be in the pot. Just when I thought she had accepted gracefully that she was not going to be the nominee, here we go again. I guess I should have known.

The scales have fallen from my eyes,( they were very thin to begin with), and as far as I personally am concerned, Obama and his inexperience (i'e. not enough time to become as corrupt as the rest of the bunch) is our best hope for a new beginning.

It is so pitiful that anyone that does not have a trust fund, or mommy and daddy aren't cushioning their life style could possibly vote for a man who was, as was GW. born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Had Hillary won the nomination, then I would have backed her 100%, but she did not. It amazes me how much the "Sheep Mentality" is alive and well as far as the Republican party is concerned.

People, please wake up! As Noblereno said, this is not the Academy Awards. Who we choose is simple, four more years of what we have had, or lets try something new.

[Schmice]

Good insight.

[Cafritz]

...not to mention, Obama went to high-school there. [:-|]

[Trill]

BOB CESCA....This is a terrific...Pulitzer Prize Winner. Awesome, Guy! You hit every ball out of the park. My word...I will send this to MSNBC. Yes...it is a G**D**Awesome Blog.

BOB CESCA....My HERO!

[Millais]

The only thing 'real' about McCain is his ex-prisioner of war phobias and PTS - shoot anything in sight in case it might get you first. Hardly 'the good judgement' required for a Commander-in-Chief, especially given the US impotence in the Georgia situation.

Bush gave the Georgians hope of, but could not deliver on 'the American Dream'. He trusted a KGB thug; ignored what was happening in Russia with the brutal killings of Anna Politkovskaya, et al, who were trying to warn the World. Instead he looked to his 'Higher Power' and dropped the World into a crises on all fronts, East and West. I hope he enjoy's his golfing in Crawford, as America Burns - with McCain in control.

THI MESSAGE IS IN SUPPORT OF BARACK OBAMA - a big ask, but he can do it.

[JoanAustinblack]

Bob, Thank goodness for your constant efforts to set the record straight. I have a subject that I would love for your to investigate or at least think about. I think there is enough grist to support a wag the dog theory about the recent conflict in Georgia. Don't you think it a little odd that McCain knew about the conflict before Bush even knew? We all know he has been in bed with Georgia. His foreign policy guy made $800.000 for his lobbying efforts toward Georgia. The timing of this conflict and McCain's insanely bellicose stance stink of some Black Sea eel. It's all so slippery and horrifying to think that the conflict sure did suit the moment for McCain. And now he is sending Lieberman and that other clown over there? I don't know Bob, something is rotten in Georgia. The GOP has loved having Obama in Hawaii, which Lou Dobbs refererred to as " a hole" the other night on his show. Do Americans really forget that Hawaii is America? I better go, my blood pressure is spiking. Follow the Wag of the Dog in Georgia.

[wallerhouse]

You know this idea of Hawaii being some kind of an exotic place must be an East coast concept. Those of us that live on the West Coast think of Hawaii as a great vacation destination and quite accessible. Not a big deal... plus Obama grew up there. His family is there.. his childrens Grandparents. Give me a break!!! He has been there all of seven days and you'd think he took a month off. I'm sure this vacation was good for him but I bet it was about the children and Michelle wanting some time with their campaign weary father and husband. If you don't take care of your self, you won't be able to take care of anyone else. I hope he had a great vacation.

[Devver]

I'm with you wallerhouse! Our 'fearless leader' went to the Olympics, came back for a week, the took a vacation!! People forget or just don't realize that he grew up there and it's all just so much BS!!! I can't wait until this is all over. Enough.

[gamegrrrl]

Hallelujah! In a few short years, white people will be the minority in the United States. Obama may or may not represent the present, but he looks an awful lot like the future. Half my family is half "Euro-American" and half "Afro-Caribbean American." My grandparents, who were Italian, were "ethnic" in the first half of the last century. They only became "white" after moving into a white neighborhood. And why did everyone make such a big deal about Obama being in Hawaii with his FAMILY, while the actual PRESIDENT did the usual "duck-and-dodge" about the whole Russia/Georgia thing? He was PLANNING TO GO TO HIS MILLIONAIRE RANCH ALL WEEK. Originally Condi was going to MEET HIM AT THE RANCH after going out there, a week to late. Hello New Orleans? Meanwhile France showed up and brokered a cease-fire, and Condi showed up when the fireworks over to wag her finger at Putin. It's mind-boggling the double-standards and hypocracy. Also pointed out this week by John Stewart, McCain's innane remarks about how "the days of invading a sovereign nation are over." Which days might those be? 2001????

Phew. I can't wait for this BS to be OVER!

[orangepetal]

When Obama spoke about keeping your home 72 degree, and what the rest of the world thought, my first thought was if his Chicago home was closer to 5 000 feet or 10 000 feet. I love all the rich democrat people who love to SPEAK green, you are the ones who are extremely excessive.

[kfdan]

"The modern Republicans have hijacked the label "real American" and stapled it onto the foreheads of a platoon of phonies. George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Mitt Romney, John Sidney McCain, Rush Limbaugh."

Yep, the hi-jacking of America's middle class values by the elitist right wing is a truth to behold. 'Only in America,' is a phrase that has grown with disastrous effects to include religious demagogues and rich elitists (their connection is wealth and influence) passing themselves off as balanced, reliable and truly interested in serving the public's best interests ... like the war for oil interests in Iraq or destroying the Constitution in the name of going after terrorists ... a plague on both houses!

[peter777]

Add to that list fake "Real Americans" Hannity, Boortz, Ingraham, Rove, and a bunch of corporate executives who are ripping off ordinary Americans in so many ways. Hannity even uses the term constantly, "he's a great American". Anybody in the estimation of the real Americans is a great American if they are bellicose and belligerent about relations with other countries, making millions per year in the business to which they have a God-given right, and subscribe to a narrow religious doctrine with the right political beliefs. It is nauseous stuff. Heaven help us if we have to put up with 4 additional years of Bush type government.

[racetoinfinity]

It's that jingoistic chauvinistic nationalist us-against­-the-world level of consciousness they're playing to (and some are dumb enough to inhabit) that should have been long gone since the fifties, but reactionaries don't want to grow/grow up and realize that we live on an interdependent planet.

[Kwaayesnama]

Why is this Arizona Republican not supporting John McCain?
With out question it is his lack of support for our state in Washington.
McCain’s call to fame is that he is the only representative in Washington never to request any earmarks for his home state. What does that prove? To me it shows that in McCain’s mind Arizona is so wealthy that we do not need any assistance from Washington. It seems he is happy to see all the tax dollars that we send to DC go to other states. Wake up John McCain! Arizona has Indian Reservations with unemployment over 60%. We have beautiful rural areas that would greatly benefit from an increase in tourism. McCain’s lack of concern for Arizona shows that when John and Cindy fly over our state in their private plane that they do not pay attention to the people that live outside of Scottsdale.
Lets see if in November the citizens of Arizona will send him a message and not vote for him.

[marm]

If being born in Hawaii and therefore vacationing there with relatives make one "exotic," does that mean that all Hawaiians are 'exotic"? And that, therefore, we should never pick a presidential candidate from that STATE? It is still a state, isn't it? Or hs it been relegated to mere "paradise" status?

[pgweeks]

Good point!

Along those same lines I wonder why having a black father makes one black. Is the white gene so totally recessive that it ceases to exist? If one has a black grandfather is one black? Great-grandfather? If he has a white mother, why isn't he white?

[postman606]

When a question like that pops in your head, do some independent reading. God we are so clueless about other people. I suggest " Before The Mayflower'. If you don't know history how can you know what brought us to this condition.

[neumann]

"seemingly interminable election cycle"?????

It is not seemingly, it is interminable.

Other nations spend maybe 6 weeks on a national campaign. In the US the campaign is now about 14 months and you have to get in about 6 months before that.

The US is pretty much the only nation in the world that spends 70% of the time in election or initial honeymoon mode. That plus the corrupting power of the congressional pork system and how would you ever expect to get anything done?