Mind Games Part III

The election of 2000 provided a clear picture of the final result of 32 years of what political division and accusation can produce. Never mind that the vote was so close. The real story was in the hyper attitude among those on the right and the left. As the weeks unfolded in the bitter election count, it became clear that this country had never been more divided.

Then came 911, and the county, the world, literally changed. Nationalism, understandably was the first reaction of a nation reacting to the horror and carnage that had been inflicted. But it also proved to be another excellent opportunity to silence anyone who dared to disagree with whatever those in power decided to do. As President George W. Bush would say, “you’re either with us or you’re with the terrorists.” Again, the subtle introduction of division and accusation was carefully embedded into the national conscience.

Democrats would reluctantly “go along to get along” rather than face accusations of cowardice in the face of an unseen enemy. And thus, Bush’s decision to launch into war with Iraq was a foregone conclusion. It provided him with an excellent visual, a ‘crusade’ against evil, one that Americans could root for. Some have suggested that it was no mistake that the term “crusade” had been invoked. The Crusades nearly 1,000 years earlier saw the Christians take arms against a number of “enemies of the church,” among them Muslims. And though Bush proclaimed that he had nothing against Islam, the visual created by his choice of words was a direct contradiction.

In 2004, John Kerry, a decorated Vietnam Veteran, was harshly assailed with the politics of division and accusation. Incredibly, his war record was cast aside in favor of a man who never served his nation offshore, and who’s limited service record was questionable. The Republican Party was reaping the benefits of years of planning, organizing, and indoctrination. They had created the perfect machine for annihilating opponents through the use of conservative talk radio, and the cable outlet, FOX Network. Their use of the media, elected, and religious leaders maintain a constant barrage of division and accusation against their opponents seemed unbeatable.

In each congressional election since 1994, the Republicans employed the “wedge issue” as an excellent means of electing their candidates and carrying out agendas that were harmful to the very people who supported them. By advocating initiatives against gays, promoting efforts to ‘protect’ religious beliefs, and support gun rights, millions of voters blindly supported the party ticket based on one or two wedge issues near and dear to them.