Country First (or, How The Media Loves A Lipsticked Rumsfeld)

Banks are falling and businesses busting, middle-class Americans are losing their homes in droves, while greedy poison comes a tricklin' down!!!

But, "the fundamentals are good!" John McCain said they're good. And he should know, 'cause he was imprisoned 40 years ago in Vietnam. What? Wait a minute - WHAT!?

Moving on:

Last week, former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, encouraged his base to throw their support behind a third-party candidate, and indeed, among the third-party candidates, one will find representation of fundamental issues not being discussed or addressed by the Democrats or the Republicans. So, okay, it's a credible option. That is, if one is willing to dismiss, not only the major parties, but also, perhaps the bigger picture related to this year's catchwords: hope and change. If we look into the eyes of all the little black boys and girls for a sense of a brand new promise; if we imagine our next president as an ambassador representing a shift of American policy to the international community -- then, we have some prioritizing to do.

I am no great fan of the Democratic Party, and have enormous disagreement and concern about many policies advocated in the Democrats' current platform. But there can be no doubt, that in a country of, for, and by the people, the only positive change that can be depended on, is a movement of imagination, aspiration, and will.

I watched both the Republican and Democratic Conventions through the same lens and found the most striking difference between the parties that I have witnessed in my lifetime. It wasn't a lens pointed at the candidates or their attack-dog speakers. It was a lens pointed at the crowd, the delegates, and the ordinary citizens that occupied those two very different halls. At the DNC, I absorbed the intense hope, passion, and readiness to participate in, and sacrifice for our country.

This was in sharp contrast to the Governor of Alaska, who actually poked fun at, indeed mocked, the constitutional rights of the criminally accused in our system, to the thunderous applause of Republican brothers and sisters wearing symbolic hard-hats emblazoned with the slogan "Drill now," and holding signs claiming "country first," like gluttons to fast-food neo-conservativism.

What country is it they're putting first? Is it a country in the service of their children's future or one serving the conceit of a deferred personal identity? The picture of Republicanism in America represented by their convention, seemed more a gathering of self-styled pseudo-cowboys and shallow-eyed Stepford wives, than one of a hearty and loyal opposition. In particular, I found myself taken aback by the instant will to embrace Palin as their new champion. Full disclosure, I've spent a lot of time in Wasilla, Alaska, where she was mayor. I've even seen Wasilla booming. By that, I mean, an afternoon where, with a little effort, one could find three of four people on the streets. It's a beautiful town in a beautiful state. But, it's smaller than my children's pre-school. Since then, she's had a little less than two years in the governorship leading to a boldly received lie about a bridge at this year's convention. Is this really the example of earned and competent leadership that we want to put one heartbeat away from the presidency leading our children's country? Or are we simply enabling Palin (declared by former Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee a "cocky wacko") the hubris of her reckless acceptance of John McCain's wildly irresponsible invitation? When did we start pridefully championing those who win the contest of lottery over those who offer substance, and those whose lifelong cultural and political curiosity has the limitations of a single sparsely populated state?

When will America be ready to rise like a real champion? I'm reminded of Muhammad Ali's legendary "Rope-A-Dope." He took punch after punch, wearing Foreman down with courage and strategy, because the great champion that he is, understood that it's not how many times you get knocked down, but how strongly you get up. This country has to start talking about a new kind of strong; has to have the real courage it takes to fight only when necessary, and to do so, in preservation of civil rights for our countrymen, but if we are to be a world leader, then for humankind as well.

Our republican-led nation did a great disservice to the young soldiers who were sent to fight in Vietnam. They were vilified, and fantastically unsupported upon their return from overseas. In many ways, one's political view of that, or any other war, is irrelevant to the responsibilities we have to our returning troops. Still, supporting troops, like supporting our own children, should not be blind. Indeed, before we can look upon troop actions with a critical eye, we must look upon our own.

Still when a presidential candidate's campaign, incessantly exploits their man's heroic mythology, not withstanding whatever courage one may appoint John McCain, the long unspoken historical context remains worthy of at least brief consideration. Captain John McCain was shot down during Operation Rolling Thunder over Vietnam. From all accounts, he, and many other Americans faced their imprisonment with courage and integrity. An estimated 52,000 Vietnamese civilians - -men, women, and children, were incinerated as a result of Rolling Thunder's bombardment. McCain himself, has acknowledged that his participation was not motivated by patriotism. But, rather, in the pursuit of personal glory. And to what end? Well, to the end that resulted in a national tragedy, a lost war, and throngs of American veterans, ignored by the country, by the very parties and people that sent and kept them there. But despite the vainglorious devastation to both sides in that conflict, an unrepentant John McCain recently voted against veteran's benefits, those supported by his major opponent. This odd dichotomy begs the question: If John McCain, in reflection, offers no support for those that served beside him, nor those who serve today, what has experience provided him? And when a man regarded so highly in heroic terms of military service, confides personal glory as a common motivation to the young Americans who risk their lives, at what point would he acknowledge patriotism as something more considered than the glib hawkishness exulted by the Republican Convention? His choice of Palin is, once again, McCain's vainglorious head rising. It's about "winning," not serving. As Senator Joe Biden said this week, "Don't tell me your values, show me your budget and I'll tell you your values."

McCain values McCain. His blood boils every time his integrity is questioned, as though his five-year imprisonment allows him the arrogant assumption that he may tread on all that followed unquestioned. He was one of the Keating Five for good reason. Indeed McCain had abused his power as a Senator in lobbying for Keating. And it was not until he was tipped off by regulators of the criminal investigation of Lincoln Savings and Loan, that he severed relations with Keating. It was a little late. More than 21,000, mostly elderly investors, had lost their life savings. And, Cindy McCain's bookkeeping was not a thing apart. All the righteous indignation, or prior heroics one wants to advertise, does not change the pattern of self-service by this man of seven houses.

I can't help but reflect on the issues of health and homelessness that our Vietnam veterans faced for decades, just think of the tidal wave of veteran's issues about to return to our shores. John McCain claims the surge as a "victory." Well, it's no victory for the nearly 5,000 American dead. For the hundreds of thousands of civilian dead. It's no victory for the veterans who under this Republican administration, it has already been demonstrated, will not be served upon their return. It's no victory for our country to have a broken and depleted military, a broken and depleted economy, with so much work to be done at home on issues of healthcare, poverty, infrastructure, education, environment, and perhaps, most of all, security. And it's no victory, that in attacking the wrong country, we boosted Al Qaeda recruitment worldwide 300% (as we stop-loss our own.) Finally, it is no victory for our children, reared in an America of such divisive loathing, enormous debt, and tarnished standing.

Despite recent boasts to the contrary, by the Director of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, (Bush's key bumbler of the Katrina debacle) our country is not safer. It is not safer from without, and it is not safer from within. The divisiveness brought on by the policies of George W. Bush and John McCain has created an emotional civil war. We have to ask ourselves, at what point emotions may even turn to violence here at home.

By and large, the media is going to do what's good for the media. If that means covering the McCain/Palin ticket for fashion, or fraud, assume fashion their more likely target. (While Americans died in the Middle East, Donald Rumsfeld was voted one of People Magazine's sexiest men.) Palin, married to an 8-year secessionist, has as much as admitted that she has no interest whatsoever in any culture but her own. It is that kind of lacking in basic curiosity and the void of insightfulness that comes with it which embodied George Bush's folksy failings.

This is simply the worst ticket in modern times. And the victory for this country begins with a unified refusal to accept, not only the McCain/Palin ticket, but also the static and shallow conscience of the Republican base. If we are to support hope, in a cycle of history that may be its last, then a vote for McCain/Palin is a vote for cowardice. A vote not backed up by demand and participation, is an impotent one. A vote for hope followed by demand and action to realize it -- is an American vote. This November, vote American. Vote imagination. Vote hope. Vote your conscience. Vote for the troops. Vote to make me pay higher taxes. (I owe it to your children and my own.) Vote to put your country first.

Comments

[weg203]

very good - i think mccain needs psychological help - too volatile and unstable to lead - i wish olbermann could ask mccain about his lies - mccain would likely explode

[tlgeiger62]

Thanks for this Sean. So well said!!

[sjmarie]

Brilliant!

[Star2000dancer]

I could not believe I heard Palin tell the crowd her son was going to fight those bad people that attacked us from Iraq. She does'nt even know, like so many Americans, that Iraq never attacked us. In fact, they're still not sure who really attacked us on 911. Bin Laden denied it, but bragged about everyone else he attacked.. Why?

MCCain keeps talking about enlisting & more wars. Brags about our volunteer military, but fails to mention how these brave patriots are lied to. Makes me sick to see them limbless, homeless, not being sent to college, lies, lies, lies. My nephew was over there twice & still never got what he was promised. Ifthe government ca;nt keep their promises to our vets, no wonder they're not volunteering anymore.

The Obama campaign is on a mission to help our military & vets. He's also educated & smart. Elitist are born into aristocracies, they do'nt work their way up. If you are'nt born or married into it, you're never really accepted into the elite base Bush calls his "base"/.Am­erican's need to understand that. And racists...­Have your DNA checked. Barack is related to Brad Pitt & Dick Cheney. We are all related to each other. There's no more blue bloods left, & if there were, the incest would make them whackos. The Republican party has ruined America. Let's take our country back! Now, when we finally have the chance. Vote early & vote alot. carpe diem!

[sak]

Fabulous analysis! I agree totally. McCain's hypocrisy looms large when he votes down bills that will help our veterans. He, of course, does not need help because he walked away from his disfigured wife (she was in a car accident while he was gone) who stood by him while he was in Vietnam and raised his children, and married a hot little millionairess. How nice for him. As for the rest of us, we are in trouble. His choice of Palin is disgusting. The latest slogan for the GOPS is "Country First." McCain has not put his country first. He truly has sold his soul in order to win an election.

[damejacqueline]

I love you, Sean!

[realistic2008]

Well said, Sean. I wish you will make a movie to show the most horrific events in modern history we are living through, one culminating with the trial for criminal against humanity by Bush and Co.in the Hague. I suggest you play the role of the prosecutor.

[honest41]

So absolutly true.
If only more people in our country had enough brain matter to GET it but then we wouldn't need to have this conversation at all. To everyone out there who is fighting to take back our country in any way (letter writing. op ed pieces, talking with your nieghbor, working with campaigns etc.) Please don't stop. We as a nation CAN"T do 4 more years of this insanity.
Love, Peace and Perserverence

[dubop]

Very nicely stated.Say­ing you're a hero doesn't make you one. Saying you're a christian doesn't make you one. How can anyone look at the country now with all that's going on and think for one minute that this maverick is gonna fix it , He is the problem." Go along to get along." That should be their slogan. You wrote a brilliant piece Mr. Penn. I hope a few undecided voters[ like there should be now] read it..

[AbrahamSadegh]

If the Barracuda ascends to the presidency without the due process of being elected, the Great Whites of the Republican Party will swallow her whole and pursue the kind of policies that might accentuate Chalmers Johnson's "The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic" leading to his vision of "Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic."

The "country first" of the Republicans seems to imply for our country first at the expense of the rest of the world. That will not do. We are a vital part of humanity but a 5% part and we cannot afford to be thinking about our own well being alone - not that we are doing such good job of our "well being" as it is. We have to be thinking of America first within a larger context.

Also on a one to one basis with any nation on this planet, there is absolutely no reason for us not to want to remain a legitimate world leader as the CEO and the captain of a team concerned about the efficiency and the well being of the organization and the team.

We should also always strive to be the first civilization never to fall from grace and remain at the apex of humanity through the greatness of our spirit, our vision, and our knowledge that we, more than anyone else, can contribute to the elevation of mankind to the level of greatness it deserves and is capable of achieving.

[foygreenwood]

Mr. Penn is absolutely correct. Distant memories of personal sacrifice in search of personal glory during a disgraceful and deceitful military action do no entitle a man to the presidency, especially when his platform is identical to that pursued by the previous failed administration. In addition, the undeniable lack of wisdom that he has displayed with his choice of an incredibly inept running mate should have any educated voter opting for any other viable choice. It is shamefully apparent that John McCain has, like many of his generation, fallen to the temptations of self-interest, greed, and arrogance. His selection of Palin as a possible vice president/­president, coupled with his lock-step record of voting with the whims of the Bush regime, is indicative of a man who, due to a corrupted world view skewed by the thirst for power, has lost the vision necessary to lead a representative democracy with the dignity and fortitude required to serve its citizens.

[janmarbol]

Mr Penn, respect- (pounds chest) ... nothing but respect for you!
I am completely disgusted with all this too.

[boo127tx]

We need to stop saying we are sorry for saying this and do not mean to belittle a war hero.BS.He­'s old,out of touch and has an obvious touch of altimers.E­verything or thought that has come out the last 3 months are what someone or ones have told him to say,you can tell when he reads a speach.McC­ain is having his strings pulled like a puppet,and he'll be a puppet of the rich if he is President because he is told and believes waht is good for the rich is good for the country because the rich run it.And how does the rich run things?Simple and has been going on since mankind.Th­e haves rule,and the have nots follow hoping for a few crums the haves might drop.
War hero,BS,he chose his path just as I did as a firefighter and I am no hero.I chose what to do because it brought me joy and whatever happened in between...­happened.

[Fullonredfrog]

I admire that penultimate line - "Vote to make me pay higher taxes. It'd be nice for the wealthy to feel indebted to the health of a country that helped get rich. It'd be better if "tax fear" didn't cause lower income folks to vote Republican because the GOP terrifyies them into believing taxing the rich means less money for them.

Taxing wealthy individuals is one thing but we need to reassess how we tax corporations. Perhaps if Banking, Mortgage, and Insurance giants had another stringent factor to their earnings - a tax responsibility - there might've been a wee more attention paid to their asset management.

Oil companies owe big as well - the boon brought by Iraq's takeover and relief from royalties for Gulf of Mexico petroleum make them invincible profit machines while others collapse around them. The relief was instituted by a Democrat - Bill Clinton. While neither party shows much interest in making oil/energy cough up its share, Democrats seem to offer the chance, if slim, to change this. There's no way in hell McCain/Palin would ever reslove this problem. Big Energy takes care of them - would they offend their benefactors by demanding they take care of their country as well?

Lastly - if my wealth ever grows I'd like to be taxed accordingly. I only hope the extra revenue would be used judiciously to the country's benefit - not as a slush fund for overpaying war-contractors or for pulling corporate giants out of graves

[weg203]

yes, greed has blocked us from thinking that we owe back to where we were lucky enough to get wealth - the haves have made sure of that - we should be making every effort to have a better government so all can benefit - for the christians, what would christ do - would christ share the wealth and want all to have medical care - republicans put business first and dems try and put the individual first - the havenots way out number the haves then why do the havenots elect against their best interest - because we are fooled by power and influence - well, lets not get fooled by McCain - McCain Rovian politics needsw to be exposed - watch olbermann and you'll see some of the McCain crap exposed

[deliriousgod]

couple of things from the sidelines: America validates the terrorists too much. It wasn't a nation or a movement that attacked you, it was a handful of strange suicidal people who had some mental health and personality disorder issues. Some white joker who was in the military blew up a federal building in Oklahoma but you didn't declare war on white guys who used to be in the military. This stuff may or may not happen again, like postal-rage, you just don't know if anything you're doing is helping or hurting that cause. And the 'Nationalsim' is archaic. 'country first' rhetoric is newbie-talk in the club of nations. 'Nations' are anachronisms. It's coolest to belong to nothing but Humanity. What does it matter if you're being robbed by an American or not? 'Countrymen' is rapidly losing appeal.

[janmarbol]

GREAT COMMENT!
And like I say (as an agnostic) to all those who think the Muslim religion is bad... how about all the hard-core Christians bombing abortion centers? Terrorists don't all wear turbans (or any other gear different than what the Western world wears) terrorists are individuals who have a bad case of mental issues and who can be any culture, religion, skin color... but of course if one says this, one is anti-American to the neo-cons-- which begs the question, for these guys, does being American simply mean being separatist?

[foygreenwood]

Thank you.

[foygreenwood]

Very astute. Extremely appropriate and important comment. Thank you.

[Fullonredfrog]

I'm on board - but we sure need some practice demonstrating humanity here at home

[Ruraljuror]

Fantastic analysis of the hollowness and danger of McCain-Palin politics. Sean, you are still the man in the boat we saw on TV rescuing hurricane victims, calling attention to their plight while the government shopped for shoes and barbecued. Never stop!

[jpokergman]

Sean,

I admire your passion. President Kennedy sent the first tropps to Vietnam. President Johnson ramped up "The Police action". President Nixon ended the action.

I say that because The United States have not been at War since World War II.

That may seem like just a technicality, but I assure you that the reason for the lack of support IS BECAUSE OF the lack of political will power in sending soldiers and sailors in harm's way.

WAR must be declared by Congress, in order to wage it. If YOU AIN"T GOT VOTES...DO­N'T send the troops!

Politicians do not really care about the uniform.

Why does Obama want to be Commander-in-Chief?

How can we elect ANY guy or gal President if they do not want to share the burdens of the military they wish to command?

In Obama's book, he desired a "shorter" journey to ultimate command. Why?

I am no fan of Officer's.­....Most care more for their careers than those that serve under them.

Yet I am even more skeptical of those that take short-cuts to the White House. ON BOTH SIDES!

Think real hard ........th­en vote.

[Landry]

There are no short cuts to the White House. But there is different routes.