Bill Mack’s Entertainment Beat: the politics of politics

When I came into this world, our president was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. As I remember, everyone seemed to love F.D.R. I remember my old grandmother saying, “President Roosevelt is a good man. His ‘fireside chats’ and radio prayers will get this country through the war!” She was referring to World War II.

By BILL MACK
Truckers Connection

9/5/2008

I would like to get a few things off my chest pertaining to the current presidential political campaign. No, I’m not an analyst. As a matter of fact, I have absolutely no special interest in politics. However, when it comes to choosing an individual to guide our country as president, shadows of seriousness surround me.

I’m not going to waste your time by revealing my choice for the office because, as I write this, I’m not certain who will receive my flimsy vote in a couple of months. Both candidates fall a bit short, in my estimation, and I believe I share that attitude with a lot of people.

I was much too young to take serious note of the content in Roosevelt’s radio speeches, but I did study the faces of those in the room listening to the old Philco radio. There was a strong air of reverence as the great man spoke. His voice was comforting, reminding me of my grandfather. When he presented a prayer at the close of his radio visit, every head in the room was bowed. It was a serious moment. It was a very personal happening.

I believe the candidates of today are missing a most important ingredient: they have lost the ability to communicate with that one-on-one approach that was utilized by President Roosevelt. It was a talent that secured FDR’s occupancy of the Oval Office for 12 years. He served from 1933 until his death on April 12, 1945. He was the only president to get elected for four consecutive terms, though he passed away just into the fourth one. One of those terms was when America was at war with Germany and Japan. After Roosevelt’s death, the 22nd Amendment to the constitution passed into law, restricting the running time for the office of president to two years. As I look back, a single term was an over-stay for one guy who was voted into the White House. No, I won’t mention his name because I’m sure there are a few people who would disagree with me, and would challenge my attitude. Besides that, I voted for him when he was in-the-running.

It’s my humble opinion that the most powerful and influential office on the planet has lost a lot of its respect. All we have to do is check the happenings that have occurred during the past few decades. The reference to The President of the United States of America just doesn’t seem to project the majestic importance it once possessed. Again, this is my personal thought. I realize there are millions who would disagree with my attitude…and I respect their opinion.

You may recall the days when a new baby boy would be born and following was always that expected statement: “He’s gonna be th’ president one of these days!” I haven’t heard that little compliment in many years. Of course, since Hillary made quite an impact, presenting some very serious thoughts toward placing a lady in the White House, it would be fitting to hear, “She’s gonna be th’ president one of these days!” while viewing a new baby girl in the crib.

For what it may be worth, I’m not against having a lady in the Oval Office, nor am I against having an African-American representing the leadership of this nation. I just don’t believe we should base any presidential campaign on the thesis of having a “First” in office. And it seems we may have swayed in that dangerous direction. Having the first female or the first African-American as president creates an image of secondary importance. Before we even bring “first” into serious thought, we should give deep study to qualifications.

One of my favorite uncles was the first in our family to spend a night in jail! So what?

Something else that troubles my mind is the fact that money seems to determine the winner of the office of the president. I was just studying a headline stating Obama had picked up millions of dollars over McCain in one week. Of course, next week McCain may counterattack Obama’s proud claim by picking up millions of dollars more than him. To me, this is a ridiculous approach for the road to the White House. Some of the better qualified people in the race for the job as president were forced out of the running because they were unable to come up with the millions of bucks required to stay in the heat of action. It’s important that we face the fact that whoever comes up with enough loot to be viewed most on television, heard more often on radio, and splotched on the pages of most newspapers and magazines is going to be the next to represent us in the White House. It’s almost as if our grand leader can be purchased at Walmart!

Finally, and really grabbing the attention:

Isn’t there a touch of hypocrisy during election time? For months, we hear Hillary screaming how her opponent, Obama, “doesn’t have what it takes to be president. He has ‘no experience’.” Then, there’s Barack telling the earth that Hillary “could never lead this nation. She can’t be trusted with the job as president. Don’t believe what she has to say.”

Almost overnight, Obama is chosen as the presidential candidate for the Democrats and suddenly Hillary is praising Barack as “our man for the job.”

And to show his appreciation, Obama is slushing out sweet words about the true leadership talents of Hillary while attempting to help her raise funds to pay off her multi-million dollar campaign debt. Heck, he might even choose her to run as vice-president. To me, this leaves the impression that the millions spent to hear these two slap each other around were a waste; evidently, every word spoken by both Obama and Clinton were not to be taken seriously.

McCain never had this problem because the Republicans managed to whittle their wheezy campaign trail down to one runner. I just hope he doesn’t doze off.

Really, I consider the current presidential campaign as frightening. Then, I remember the most memorable words ever spoken by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!”

Those words by old FDR have never meant as much to me as they do now.

Hear Bill Mack daily from Noon until 4:00 p.m. (ET) on XM Satellite Radio. The program is replayed from 8:00 p.m. until Midnight (ET). Bill’s book, “Bill Mack’s Memories From The Trenches of Broadcasting” and recordings can be ordered here.