Putting What Where? Trying to Understand McCain's Slogan

Political slogans are usually vague and devoid of any real meaning. Neither Obama's nor McCain's slogan are any real exception to this. However, there is something particularly disturbing about the slogan "putting country first." When I first saw it I winced, but attributed that to the slogan being so embarrassingly childish, although in fairness I don't think any of the students in my son's 4th grade class would come up with something quite so meaningless. It also struck me as a bad riff on Bill Clinton's 1992 slogan "putting people first."

As I reflect upon it, it strikes me that there is something else about this slogan that I find troubling. Like any good slogan, it is hard to determine what, precisely, is meant by "putting country firs,." particularly from a ticket whose vice presidential candidate chose to use a nationally devised debate to suggest that paying taxes is somehow "not patriotic." It also seems like a strange slogan from a party that, at least in its rhetoric, is committed to individual freedoms and rights.

"Putting country first" obviously suggests that Republicans, and McCain specifically, are more patriotic than Democrats generally, and Obama specifically. While this is objectively speaking nonsense, one can't get too angry or surprised by this. Getting angry or surprised by Republicans calling Democrats unpatriotic is like getting angry or surprised at a tiger for having stripes. Similarly, it seems to suggest that Obama is driven by ambition while McCain is driven by pure patriotism, but this also standard Republican rhetoric about which we cannot get too upset.

The more serious question raised by a slogan like "putting country first" is "ahead of what?" In 1992, most people could assume that "putting people first" meant putting people ahead of profits. Regardless of whether or not that was an accurate description of Clinton's economic policies, or even of the economic problems facing the US at that time, the point of the slogan was clear. However, there the McCain-Palin slogan is far less clear on this question.

There are, of course, times when "putting country first" is an honorable thing to do. All of the people in the military who have made great sacrifices particularly those who have been injured and killed while serving their country, regardless of the wisdom of the war itself, have "put country first" and should be recognized for doing that. Clearly McCain's individual heroism while a POW in Vietnam was a similar case of "putting country first."

In civilian life, however, the notion of "putting country first" is somewhat more troubling. To a great extent, the whole point of the USA, and the source of much of its greatness, is that we don't put country first. We put individuals, social and group goods, and even specific national goals first, but these are different than the abstract idea of "putting country first." If we were to, as a society, put country first, who would define what "country" is or what putting it "first" might mean? The answer presumably is John McCain, but this opens the door for a style of governance that would likely be intolerant of dissent and would accuse all dissenters of not "putting country first." We saw where this approach got us during the last eight years. Perhaps all of us, particularly the country McCain seeks to put first, would be better served by putting rational decision making, a better understanding of the world, or the rule of law first.

The notion of "putting country first" also suggests the presence of a greater good, or that we should all be working for the glory of our country above all individual desires and needs. The strength of American style democracy is that it is not about seeking greater goods, but about individuals seeking to pursue their own goals within the context of freedom, equality and rule of law. In many respects, part of the true genius of James Madison and others was to rid our democracy of the goal of achieving a greater good, but to instead focus on avoiding the tyranny often results from seeking this greater good. It is indeed shocking that a Republican candidate for president doesn't understand this.

While patriotism and sacrifice are values that are central to good governance, democracy and to what has made our country great, "putting country first" has historically been the approach not of those who would celebrate the individual's right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" as our founding fathers put it, but of those who would take these things away in the name of an abstract idea like "country." The distinctions between patriotism, and placing the good of the state over the good of the individual is indistinct, but of critical import. It is also undermined by slogans like "putting country first." John McCain should understand this, but somehow has decided to use this slogan anyway.

Comments

[Bitsko]

Interesting commentary. I don't understand what they mean by the word "Put."

[USA1776]

Looking at republican economic policies, I would say Country Club First.

[juniorjedi]

If you want to know what John mcCain means by "country first"...read Mein Kampf....
Hitler spoke of the fatherland....
He spoke of nationalism... which is shortened as (NAZI)
Look at the audiences at the Hitler Rallies...Look at the audiences at McCain's ...there is no logic ...no thinking...just fear and hate...this is 2008...and a grown man is standing in a huge hall sayin ghe is afraid of a Obama Presedency...how sad...

Remember that Germany/Austria was a very diverse place...kinda like America (for that period of time)
and what did Hitler use as his strategy... to get the nuts to follow him to hell...
He Rage against the "othernees" his fellow citizens...what has McCain been doing...
we all know where this road leads...

[BarackMarley]

You'd think that a campaign whose moto was country first wouldn't have a former member of an Alaskan Secessionist party whose party put Alaska first and wanted to secede from the USA

Here's an Interview With Sara Palin's Old Political Party on Palin
http://newsone.blackplanet.com/elections/akip-interview-on-palin/

[joshuahmcdonald]

John McCain's campaign slogan is absolutely perfect. Perfect in that it completely describes the hyper-nationalism of his supporters who have completely lost touch with the reality of our country's true ideals which is that the vast majority of Americans are descendants of those who have come here from somewhere else fleeing just that sort of hyper-nationalism elsewhere.

[caterpol]

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

The slogan "Country First" is meant to set him apart from the "Warshington" politcs-as-usual crowd that McCain keeps disparaging. It's meant to separate him from the old guard, Bush in particular, because their brand is tarnished to say the least. The slogan is supposed to work much the same way his choice of Palin is supposed to work. She's not a Warshington insider!

McCain has to rely on such specious slogans since the "maverick" voted with Bush on all issues that actually matter, and since he has been part of the old guard for 26 years.

Maybe folks won't notice that McCain, himself, IS one of those old-guard Warshington insiders he pretends to rail against, but I doubt it---judging from the polls.

[ljmck]

Good point, that we ought to put aside what is essentially a bogus call to patriotism. Can we also put aside the meme of McCain's heroism?

He was shot down and captured, and then he endured captivity and torture--as did many others. He refused the opportunity to go home early, as did many others. McCain also revealed who he was to get special treatment, and he gave his captors information, as he admits in his book. Where is the heroism?

Heroism is usually seen as risking one's life or liberty for the benefit of others. McCain did not do that. Rather than protect others, he traded information for his own health.

That McCain was in the military owes more to an expectation that he carry on a family tradition than to his personal drive to serve his country. Indeed, his grade point average and reckless actions prior to his service in Viet Nam suggest he was thumbing his nose at the family, and the country's, business.

The notion of McCain's political heroism, that he is a maverick, is suspect in its implication that he stands up for someone or something else. His contrariness has been a mechanism to rehabilitate or further his own career and persona, a string of efforts to make up for past misdeeds while he constructs a myth of political bravery, all in service of his staying or advancing in office.

Putting his country first is not McCain's strong point, putting his own needs first is.

[apoyo]

It means putting the country of white conservatives first.

[Rog49Thomas]

Not many here speak conservative-ese, so let me translate.

"America" or "Country" (as in our country) consists of the haves and the have mores. Does not include people of color, the poor and anyone who doesn't agree with the conservative ideology.

"Putting First" means respecting the interests of America (see above definition). And you'd probably be surprised to learn that in doing so you make our country stronger, wiser and more beautiful. This is to be contrasted to "liberalism" which puts the interest of the little guy first.

So, now let's apply these definitions in real life situations.

(1) Do you (a) provide adequate equipment and supplies to our troops or (b) billion dollar no bid contracts to major corporations?

(2) Do you (a) provide proper post battle medical care to our troops after their brave sacrfice or (b) spend the money on unneeded tax cuts for the already obscenely wealthy?

If your answer is (a), well then you're not a good American. (At least in these folks view).

[studioh!]

considering it's john mccain that is using this slogan, he probably means c*ntry first!

[loveHP]

I'm glad to see this slogan being inspected, because it is unsettling for all the reasons you mention. To me it is tribal, and a projection of "Me first", which I think typifies the reactionary Republican attitude in large part.

[rpd123]

From its inception, "Country First" has struck me as the most incongrous campaign slogan ever.

If you put Country First, you choose a running mate who has the intellect, experience and judgment to fill your shoes, especially if you happen to be 72 years old and in questionable health. If you chose a gimmick that might help you get elected, you are putting yourself first.

Have you seen the new McCain slogan? "Change is Coming," as if you can just hijack and arbitrarily apply this to your campaign because it seems to be working for the other guy. Change is coming, indeed, but McCain and Palin have nothing to do with it.

[ajax2]

"putting country first" for Republicans could mean putting the country of Iraq first.

[sparkle44]

My first thought about that slogan was "didn't we already put China first" after all I cannot find much of anything left that is made in the USA. We have morgaged ourselves to China to invade and occupy Iraq. Where have all the jobs gone?

[the-lexicon]

I've posted this elsewhere previously:

I found the "country first" slogan to be surprising too. As you say, what does that mean?

Does that mean, "country before states"....as in a repudiation of states rights?

lexicon

[Puller58]

Sloganeering, jingoism, all part of the propoganda that passes for political discourse.