Reply To: Political Statements
Shruti said:
I don’t think there’s a big difference. If Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel were the mainstream democratic party (god i wish), then maybe.
To which I will respond with this Hunter S. Thompson quote that I horked from a friend’s blog. Just substitute “Obama” for “McGovern,” and “McCain” for “Nixon.” (Well, that, and of course, Obama and McCain aren’t both white.)
There may not be much difference between Democrats and Republicans–I have made that argument myself–with considerable venom, as I recall–over the past ten months…But only a blind geek [different meaning – this is from 1972] or a waterhead could miss the difference between McGovern and Richard Nixon. Granted, they are both white men; and both are politicians-but the similarity ends right there, and from that point on the difference is so vast that anybody who can’t see it deserves whatever happens to them if Nixon gets re-elected due to apathy, stupidity, and laziness on the part of McGovern voters.
Not that I’m suggesting that Shruti is a blind geek, a waterhead, apathetic, stupid or lazy. Just demonstrating difference in parties vs. difference in candidates. 🙂
Also, from another friend’s salient link to a description of Hotelling’s Model.
To gain the nomination, the candidate must position himself in the middle of the party. Because the average Democrat has significantly different views than the average Republican, Republican and Democratic candidates sound quite different before nominations are decided. After the party nominations are determined, the two candidates must “sell” to the same beach. Republican candidates move to the left and Democratic candidates move to the right. By election time, their positions on issues usually sound close enough so that factors such as personality emerge as keys to the election [emphasis mine].
In short, while there may not be significant difference between Dems and Republicans, I think that Obama and McCain are vastly different creatures at their cores if not in their policy positions.