Through the Lenz

If you recall, a grassroots movement that found their voice through a modern medium-the Internet powered Dean’s quick ascent in 2004 from relative obscurity to national prominence. Elites have clearly learned from the “near debacle” of 2004. Both major parties have shifted their primaries to earlier dates(even to the point of threatening New Hampshire’s first primary status) and closer to each other as to prevent a prolonged contest-an advantage for insurgent and money strapped candidates; the national media comprised of the likes of the New York Times, Washington Post, Time Magazine and the Wall Street Journal, have appeared to arrive at a consensus number one from each party; and political scientists embracing their roles as the noble “experts” have so far served to lend an air of legitimacy to the prerogatives of the very powerful. From the Democratic Party it would appear that Hillary Clinton has emerged as the front-runner. From the Republican Party, it appears that Rudolph Giuliani has supplanted John McCain as the party’s anointed front-runner. Whoever emerged victorious from a potential battle between these two corporate backed candidates would make no difference. Either way, US elites win.

Second, Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul, two of the campaign’s underdog candidates, have exhibited an extraordinary degree of spunk. When asked in the recent democratic debate held at St Anselm College, in Manchester, to say what separated him from the other candidates he responded with one word-morality. He said that the lack of a moral spine of some of his colleagues (see the likes of John Edwards, Clinton and Joseph Biden), to vote against the original Iraq War resolution back in 2003 was simply reprehensible. Kucinich then explained his proposal for establishing a Department of Peace and added that a president must be a moral person in order to be a moral leader.

Likewise, Paul differentiated himself from his competition a few nights later on the same stage, when the candidates were asked what the most pressing moral issue was facing the nation. The candidates responded with evidently rehearsed responses listing conservative favorites like abortion and gay marriage. Not Paul. Paul explained that American imperialism and more specifically, Iraq, was the single greatest moral dilemma facing the nation. Keep an eye on both the underdog candidates as we move through the campaign season. Both are sure to hold the establishment candidates accountable to the public for their many distortions and misdeeds.