Giving new meaning to the phrase “popular vote”

Remember voting on the homecoming king and queen back in high school?  It was almost always the most popular kids that won.  And I suppose that was fine.  After all, what responsibilities were given to the homecoming king and queen after winning?  Smiling and waving at the football game?  Dancing together at the dance?  Exactly.

Now when it came to the class president, it was a different story.  There are some significant responsibilities that come with being class president.  You can’t just be the most popular kid.  And they usually weren’t.

My point is that lately it feels more like we’re electing a homecoming king, instead of a class president, to be the next President of the United States of America.

The enthusiasm for Barack Obama is unprecedented in many ways.  Which, you’d think, would be a good thing.  The problem is that a larger and larger portion of this enthusiasm seems to be very…unthoughtful.  And I don’t mean that in as negative of a way as it probably sounds.  But it’s true.  Much of the support seems to be coming from people that really have no idea – and don’t care – what Obama truly believes or intends to do as President.

There is no doubt that many people, regardless of their own skin color, are voting for Obama because he is black.  And I’m sure there are some that are voting against him for the same reason.  Both motivations are wrong, in my opinion.

But there is something even bigger here, I believe.  I think even more people are voting for Obama simply because he is the cool kid.  America’s worldwide popularity has taken a pretty good hit in the past few years and we want to be the cool kids on the block again.  He speaks well.  He’s a brilliant politician – no doubt.  He looks good.  He’s a natural leader.  And, yes, he’s black.  And for a nation stained with a history of racism, I too feel the significance and accomplishment in finally electing a black president of the United States.

But while we’re being self-conscious and mending old wounds, let’s also be reasonable.  After all, some of the worst leaders (even the well-intentioned ones) in history have also been some of the brightest and coolest.

And yes, I realize that this kind of blind, unthoughtful enthusiasm happens on both sides of the isle.  And it is wrong and irresponsible in all cases.  And no, I’m not saying that all Barack Obama supporters are unthoughtful.

But I fear that the extraordinary social pressure in many circles combined with a media that has overwhelming given more favorable covereage to Barack Obama has created a perceived environment in America that if you aren’t voting for Barack Obama – you’re just not cool.

That brings back another one of those memories from high school – peer pressure.  Unfortunately, it seems that even us adults still fall prey to it.

How else can you explain this?

Again, their theory here is that these people are voting for Obama simply because he’s black(P.S. I don’t endorse Howard Stern in anyway.).  But, as I’ve said, I think there is an even bigger social phenomenon going on. And I believe that the extreme to which it is happening in our country right now is skewing this election like never before.

Either way, voters need to know the issues.  If you don’t know why you are voting for a candidate, learn or stay home.  It’s dangerous to be casting votes for our president based on who is culturally the most popular.

We are talking about real issues here:  Issues that affect our security, families, human life, and the future of America.  Let’s leave the “cool kid” contest back in high school.