February 17, 2010--Political Ju Jitsu
Pretend you're Barack Obama and realize you will face in November a very tight race for reelection. No matter who the Republicans nominate. Even Rick Santorum, who is really nothing special, in a head-to-head poll, trails Obama by "only" seven or eight points.
So what to do? You understand, in spite of the fact that the economy is improving, that it is still likely to be the defining issue during the campaign. You also know that you will be blamed for the certain still-high rate of unemployment this upcoming summer and fall. This is where you are most vulnerable.
The solution--change the subject. Get the national conversation focused on social issues. That's where you, Obama, are strong. Especially among independent voters. Women particularly. The election is in their hands.
But how to do that?
Like what we just saw last week in regard to contraception.
You see Santorum more and more as the likely GOP nominee and you recall that for months and years he has been expounding his views about sexuality and procreation. Listening to him it's as if we are experiencing déjà vu. It's the 1950s again when many states banned the sale or distribution of any form of birth control. Or maybe Santorum wants to dial us back to the 15th century when Savonarola raged against the sexual excesses he claimed to see around him. Excesses that he claimed were leading to the Last Days.
In 1494, the ruling Medici were overthrown and Savonarola emerged as the new leader of the city, combining in himself the role of leader and priest. He set up a republic in Florence. Characterizing it as a “Christian and religious Republic,” one of its first acts was to make sodomy, previously punishable by fine, into a capital offence. Homosexuality had previously been tolerated in the city, and many homosexuals from the elite chose to leave Florence.
Sound familiar? Well, it did to Obama who got the subject changed from jobs, jobs, jobs to gayness and contraception and reproductive health. Areas of strength for him and weakness among the broader electorate for Santorum. And Rick took the bait.
As evidence--what are we talking about now? The crustiness and mean-spiritedness of the Catholic bishops who have doubled down on this for ecclesiastical as well as political reasons (even though more than 95 percent of their congregants use birth control) as well as Rick Santorum's uncompromising views. There is all sorts of video tape of him ranting about how contraception distracts people from the only valid reason to engage in sexual intercourse--procreation.
From last October, direct from Santorum, here is a sample of his views on the subject:
Ironically, though he says that no president has talked about contraception Obama in fact has and he, as a result, has put a spotlight on Santorum's neo-medieval views.
So what to do? You understand, in spite of the fact that the economy is improving, that it is still likely to be the defining issue during the campaign. You also know that you will be blamed for the certain still-high rate of unemployment this upcoming summer and fall. This is where you are most vulnerable.
The solution--change the subject. Get the national conversation focused on social issues. That's where you, Obama, are strong. Especially among independent voters. Women particularly. The election is in their hands.
But how to do that?
Like what we just saw last week in regard to contraception.
You see Santorum more and more as the likely GOP nominee and you recall that for months and years he has been expounding his views about sexuality and procreation. Listening to him it's as if we are experiencing déjà vu. It's the 1950s again when many states banned the sale or distribution of any form of birth control. Or maybe Santorum wants to dial us back to the 15th century when Savonarola raged against the sexual excesses he claimed to see around him. Excesses that he claimed were leading to the Last Days.
In 1494, the ruling Medici were overthrown and Savonarola emerged as the new leader of the city, combining in himself the role of leader and priest. He set up a republic in Florence. Characterizing it as a “Christian and religious Republic,” one of its first acts was to make sodomy, previously punishable by fine, into a capital offence. Homosexuality had previously been tolerated in the city, and many homosexuals from the elite chose to leave Florence.
Sound familiar? Well, it did to Obama who got the subject changed from jobs, jobs, jobs to gayness and contraception and reproductive health. Areas of strength for him and weakness among the broader electorate for Santorum. And Rick took the bait.
As evidence--what are we talking about now? The crustiness and mean-spiritedness of the Catholic bishops who have doubled down on this for ecclesiastical as well as political reasons (even though more than 95 percent of their congregants use birth control) as well as Rick Santorum's uncompromising views. There is all sorts of video tape of him ranting about how contraception distracts people from the only valid reason to engage in sexual intercourse--procreation.
From last October, direct from Santorum, here is a sample of his views on the subject:
One of the things I will talk about that no President has talked about before is I think the dangers of contraception in this country, the whole sexual libertine idea. Many in the Christian faith have said, “Well, that’s okay. Contraception’s okay.”
It’s not okay because it’s a license to do things in the sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be. They’re supposed to be within marriage, they are supposed to be for purposes that are, yes, conjugal, but also [inaudible], but also procreative. That’s the perfect way that a sexual union should happen. We take any part of that out, we diminish the act. And if you can take one part out that’s not for purposes of procreation, that’s not one of the reasons, then you diminish this very special bond between men and women, so why can’t you take other parts of that out? And all of a sudden, it becomes deconstructed to the point where it’s simply pleasure. And that’s certainly a part of it—and it’s an important part of it, don’t get me wrong—but there’s a lot of things we do for pleasure, and this is special, and it needs to be seen as special.
Again, I know most Presidents don’t talk about those things, and maybe people don’t want us to talk about those things, but I think it’s important that you are who you are. I’m not running for preacher. I’m not running for pastor, but these are important public policy issues. These how profound impact on the health of our society.
Ironically, though he says that no president has talked about contraception Obama in fact has and he, as a result, has put a spotlight on Santorum's neo-medieval views.
posted by Steven Zwerling at
5:24 AM
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