BATTLEGROUND AMERICA By Eric S. Margolis 5 November 2000 A lot of American voters are clearly perplexed or dismayed by having to choose between a: Al Gore, an unlikable, big-government Washington politician with all the warmth of a scowling cigar store Indian, and b: amiable but shallow George W Bush, who often sounds like he should be running for the Texas school system rather than president of the world's most powerful nation. Voters are uncomfortable with these political test tube babies, who were both bred and reared to dynastic politics. The two fringe candidates in the unthrilling 2000 election, leftist Ralph Nader and rightist Pat Buchanan, are at least self-made politicians and real people who say refreshingly heretical things. Ten percent of voters remain undecided; their last-minute mood swing may determine the election. In this female-oriented campaign, voters must struggle through the candidate's boring proposals on education, daycare, female health, drug plans, taxes, and pensions, all as easily comprehensible as the instructions to your VCR. `Male' issues, like foreign policy, defense, and crime, have been largely ignored. The media nervously trumpets the race is neck-a-neck, with Gore holding a slight edge in many big states. One must be wary of America's print and electronic media, which is predominantly controlled by liberal Democrats. Surveys show 70-80% of all journalists are registered Democrats. Hollywood, the mouthpiece of America's liberal left and far-left, reinforces the pro-Democratic message through TV sitcoms like `The West Wing' and romantic chick flics about thinly disguised Clinton act-alikes. Bush still holds a narrow lead in the popular vote. But he must overcome the daunting arithmetic of the all-important electoral college which elects the president(voters do not): whoever wins a simple majority gets all the electoral votes of 48 out of 50 states. This curious system was designed by the Founding Fathers as a safeguard against a demagogue buying mob votes by offering, say, free land or free whiskey. Ironically, in modern America, the electoral college gives an unfair advantage to big population states like California, New York, Illinois and Florida, whose large, urban minorities are routinely bought by promises of welfare handouts, government jobs and other freebies. Step back from the melee of US politics and often blurred differences between Republicans and Democrats, and you see two main camps: a party of government, and a party of taxpayers. The Democrats are the party of government. They generally believe big government should perform active social engineering through regulation and income redistribution between social groups. Dems favor high taxes, centralized control from Washington, socialized medicine, abortion and gun control, oppose state's rights, and hate smokers. Democrats range from moderates and conservatives, who are indistinguishable from Republicans, all the way over to the business-hating Sierra Club, Hollywood's movie marxists, the leftish chic Jane Fonda-Hillary Clinton crowd, and the male-hating Lesbian Left. People who live off the public purse - teachers, government workers and bureaucrats, welfare recipients, the culture crowd, single mothers - are strongly Democratic. Blacks vote 98% Democratic. So, too, immigrants - exhibit A being California, where the non-white population has grown to 51% and Democrats now outnumber once dominant Republicans thanks to a flood of Mexican and Asian immigrants that caused a white exodus to the mountain states. Lawyers, America's most hated group after child molesters, are the biggest cash donor to the Democrats: in this race a whopping US $73 million. Next comes Hollywood, with $25 million, big public sector unions, $12.6 million, and teachers unions. Jews, though only 2% of the population, provide almost half the Democratic Party's funding, and are its most influential single group. Italians and Irish, once Democratic stalwarts, long ago decamped to the Republicans. Blacks and union members provide the party's foot soldiers. Gays, and young women who are deeply influenced by Hollywood TV sitcoms and talk shows, vote strongly Democratic. Republicans are the party of taxpayers and investors. White men and a majority of married women vote Republican. Republicans favor less and smaller government, political decentralization to local levels, lower taxes, less regulations, the free market, and decisions made by citizens rather than bureaucrats. But Republicans are also split into two camps: the larger, moderates and libertarians, who believe in political, economic, and social laissez-faire; and the small but vocal Christian hard right, which seeks to impose its social beliefs about abortion, drink, censorship, and sex on everyone. Also strongly Republican: America's military men and women, gun owners, small town dwellers, and big businesses like oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, defense, and demon tobacco. In all, Republicans have raised $187 million to the Democrat's $133 million - just for the presidential race. An equal amount will be spent on the Senate and House races. TV stations are growing rich on political advertising. Hispanics, America's fastest growing ethnic group, have voted Democratic in the past. However, Republicans, led by the Spanish-speaking Bush, are making important inroads among Hispanics, who tend, like many Republicans, to be socially conservative and family-oriented. The Hispanic vote could very likely determine the 2000 election. America's forgotten minority of 8 million Muslims, about 4% of voters, has suddenly become an important factor in this every- vote-counts race. Gore's decades-long financial support by the Israel lobby, his ardently pro-Israeli stance, and current bloodshed in Palestine, are driving Muslim voters to the Republicans, and could tip the balance in Michigan, Illinois, and even California. How much effect Bill Clinton, the Banquo's ghost of this election, will have is uncertain. Gore ignored his tarnished mentor until he became desperate for Clinton's campaign magic. Sexy Bill may help the stolid Gore with female voters, but his legacy of impeachment and endless fund-raising scandals might drive many undecided voters to the less tarnished Republicans. The race for Congress is even more important, though less colorful than the presidential contest. Congress controls the nation's spending and lawmaking. Americans often like to split their votes, giving one party control of Congress and the other the White House. During the past eight years, the Republican-run Congress kept a lid of spending, brought down the debt, and nurtured prosperity. Clinton's most important contribution was to do very little. He was, however, brilliant acting as a super MC for the country and gushing emotion on TV. But Clinton took and was given credit for the historic economic boom fathered by President Ronald Reagan. Gore might end up as president and the tight-wad Republicans ruling the Hill - or visa versa. But if the Democrats accomplish their cherished goal of retaking Congress, some of their most liberal members will become powerful committee chairmen, assuring higher government spending and higher taxes, both of which will hurt the still robust economy. Americans tend to be wary of trusting free-spending Democrats with their money. Tuesday's race will very likely be decided in California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Missouri. If Ralph Nader's Green Party siphons off too many leftwing votes, Gore could lose. Buchanan is off the radar scope. Bush might carry 30 states yet still lose the election. If Bush loses California, which is likely, he must win all the big Midwest states and Florida. The presidential victor will carry many Congressional candidates on his coattails. In New York, the hated/adored Hillary Clinton seems likely to win her senate race, a prelude to her presidential ambitions in 2004 or 2008. Election watchers should be prepared for a very late night Tuesday. This column's usually reliable crystal ball has gone cloudy. The race is too tight to call, the closest in 40 years. Weather could play a decisive influence, with rain or snow favoring the Republicans. Our best indicator may be the Tuesday stock market close: up, a Bush win; down, a Gore win. Copyright: Eric S. Margolis, November 2000 To send *personal mail* to Eric Margolis, please do not click reply, but use this link: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ************** To UNSUBSCRIBE to this list click the following link and enter the words UNSUBSCRIBE FOREIGNC in the body of the email. mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
