Speaking to hope that’s always just out of reach doesn’t turn failure into accomplishment. That’s a mistake we heard more than once during Tuesday night’s State of the Union. Getting your party elected doesn’t create greatness just because you don’t like what the current administration has done, either.
Emotions That Win Votes by Tricking People
The man that perfected divisive “us and them” politics claimed to reject one of his favorite political weapons in a speech on policing in Chicago.1 Calling it “shocking” that candidates would resort to his own brand of divisiveness, President Obama blamed others for stirring up the same negative emotions that he is still using to bring in money and win votes by tricking people with their feelings.
What You Believe Is Not Your Opinion, So Whose Is It?
Who decides what you believe about politics and current events? Is your opinion yours, or someone else’s creation? More often than not, the controversies we obsess over aren’t nearly as big as they sound. They seem important, but they don’t affect a lot of people.
America is Great, but How Do We Make it Good?
No presidential candidate will claim that America isn’t great. That kind of heresy would be political suicide. No matter what party they have pledged allegiance to, anyone running for our nation’s highest office will proudly proclaim that America is great and always has been.
Lead America or Enforce a Liberal Agenda?
If you want to know who will lead America and who has an agenda, note the reaction of Hillary Clinton to what happened in Charleston (see: Church Tragedy Will Be Dishonored by Politics). She twisted the situation to push her agenda forward and to stir up divisiveness.