How Would George Washington Fare In A CNN Debate?
January 26, 2012
Washington...Would He Tower In The Field?
Imagine if George Washington was added to the field in the Florida/CNN GOP Presidential debate.
How would he fair when compared with the very vocal Newt Gingrich, the off-beat Ron Paul or the stoic Mitt Romney? Would James Carville find him to have a “real grasp” of the issues? A responsible vision of the country’s future? In the “pre-game” and “post-game” analysis of every word he spoke or misspoke, would the revered Father of our County measure up in energy, personality, command of the stage and bear up well under the lights?
We are allowing the media to select our nominee. With the Republican National Committee almost completely non-functional, the states and the news networks have been controlling when, where, who, and how long our precious candidates for the presidency will be exposed to America. This can never be permitted to happen again, and the fact that it has, now has given Barack Obama an even bigger edge in an election year when he should be packing his bags.
Meanwhile, Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich slap on make-up twice a week after achingly long campaign days. They watch “overnight” tracking polls like the bible, instead of realistically watching the more accurate long-term polling trends. Their ties are noticed, their haircuts, their stage presence, and of course, their wives.
It is a bit unfair. We find ourselves occasionally rooting for the best candidate….instead of the best President.
So while it is a bit whimsical to think about, consider how political consultant David Gergen might analyze George Washington’s presence on a stage. Would he accuse the admired General of the Continental Army of being…a bit wooden? Too formal for folks to connect with. Distant or unemotional, and unable to relate to the common folk because of his great wealth?
Washington Was Never Accused Of Being Out Of Touch, Though Wealthy
Would Wolf Blitzer be satisfied with George Washington’s response when asked about the role of service and faith in his life? Or ask him to explain the rather unusual garb he wears as a committed Mason and try to delve into what sacred rites lay beyond the closed doors of his Temples?
And of course it would be awkward, but when Wolf Blitzer asked about expanding America’s great frontiers, do you think that Washington would campaign on bankrupting the country to colonize the distant edges of Alaska? Or investing in exploration of unknown regions of the Earth? Or would his course be to make the U.S.
Alaska WAS The Great Frontier..In The 1700's
Treasury sound before burying Americans in crippling debt?
National healthcare? A non-starter, with the first U.S. president insisting that states’ rights prevail and that the federal government back away from the dangerous precipice of returning to: a monarchy.
George Washington, John Adams, even Thomas Jefferson likely would not fare well in today’s “television test” of candidates. A ridiculous metric, artificially applied to the ordinary men who desire to lead our country today.
And that is our problem. Since the transformational moments of the William Jefferson Clinton era, voters have been convinced by the media to value personality over character.
Our resistance has been worn down. We dig the toe of our shoe into the dirt as we venture to ask if a candidate for public office has any dirty laundry. Because often they do.
Yet we are judged more harshly for inquiring than they are for daring to test our trust.
There are four men left in the race for the GOP nomination. One clearly poses a dire threat to Barack Obama. Let’s wipe away 
the fog created by the media, and look squarely at whom we are electing. This transformational time is no less dire than the early days of America. Let’s return to the tried and tested tradition of selecting our President based on character and skills.
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