"Are We Predictable?"

I don't often do an immediate follow-up on a blog, but today, after some reflection, I would like to say a little more about Harry Reid's comments in the now controversial book. As an American when I re-read this statement I must take it as a personal insult to all Americans, not only people of color. Mr.Reid's statement assumes that the American citizen must be presented a certain type of candidate, the right accent, the right skin-tone, a suitable demeanor, a homogenized candidate; pre-packaged and sell able product. How Mr. Obama is not upset by this is something I don't understand. The same nation that elected Abraham Lincoln, not a handsome man, to the White House is now characterized as a group who must have a "game show host" in the White House, because he has the proper accent, good looks, and is not too ethnic in persona. We have been pigeon-holed as a people, not only by the democrats but the republicans as well. Focus groups, poll takers, and the advertising industry have crunched numbers, and surveyed us into a type of "flock" that can be fed a certain type and we will follow that type with calculated programming. The racial overtones of Reid's statement were offensive, yet the arrogance that was suggested in describing Mr. Obama as an "acceptable" candidate was more offensive. By this suggested premise a person who was too "Jewish" or too "Italian" or any other racial or ethnic group would not be an acceptable candidate regardless of their qualifications or abilities. Although presently Harry Reid is currently under scrutiny he is not the only politician that feels the American people can be managed and herded like cattle into whichever direction they wish to move them. The founding fathers wanted a government that followed the will of the people, not a government that tried to control the people through a tactic of programmable response. As a society we must take some of the responsibility for our giving over our power to those who want control rather then govern. We have allowed others to tell us what to believe and accept, rather than finding out what we want by looking into issues and candidates. Men like Reid for too long have been pulling the strings of public opinion, putting a shadow over our choices. His attitude is now revealed as one of arrogance, a man who feels he can predict and manipulate; a controller. This is an indictment of our entire political system, a system that was originally designed to serve the populous, now a system that seems to be one determined to maintain power over the populous. It is my sincerest hope that this revelation is a wake up call for all Americans. We need to take America back, to show all politicians that they are serving at our pleasure and we will not be manipulated by those who would steal our freedom of choice. The next time any of us listen to a politician we must be on guard, don't be easily led or influenced. They have done their homework, we should do ours!