Compassion in Politics: Christian Social Justice, Non-Profits, and Life Theology

Opening salvos….
Surprise, surprise, surprise!!! Overwhelmingly tonight’s debate on Fox focused on Iraq, terrorism, and taxes. This strategy reflects Fox’s attempt to frame the ideological tenor of the national conversation about the 2008 election and beyond. The three clear winners were McCain, Huckabee, and Giuliani. In addition, Ron Paul had a notable showing as well. Finally, the biggest loser was Mit Romney. Fred Thompson also proved to be a loser and a disappointment to this Tennessee native by staying home and dramatically out of the political conversation when democracy came to town.One of the key winners was John McCain, who proved his superior policy knowledge throughout the debate, but especially on the Iraq issue and stood on his 24 year record of cutting taxes and spending. McCain proudly proclaimed, “I will vote every pork barrel that comes across my desk.” Echoing his earlier success, in the post-debate interview, McCain came across as genuine, informed, and authentic.

Mike Huckabee who’s spiritual common sense narrative of core American values puts him at a close second. His appeal is genuine, his tone is moderate as opposed to extremist, and his values resonate in the heartland (see Aims Iowa poll). He correctly emphasizes that the principles of the party can’t be sacrificed to merely winning elections. In a post-debate interview Huckabee claimed to be a first tier candidate because he is “Tied with Fred Thompson ahead of Giuliani” and the Iowa Aims poll echo that conclusion. Huckabee correctly suggests name recognition is one of the largest barrier to winning. Taking Fox to task Huckabee highlights, “The issues of the next debate should be education and health care, and what are you going to do to keep our jobs from going to China?”

Rudy! Guiliani consistently drew on his empirical successes in lowering crime and cutting budgets in New York. While other candidates tended to “beat around the bush,” Giuliani consistently provided intelligent, compelling answers. He also deftly changed the family values issue to more a matter of policy performance. Effectively, he dodged the most threatening question of the evening, especially for Christian conservatives. His answer was simultenously verbal judo in shifting the focus and a mea culpa of sorts: “I’m human…and you’re not electing me to be perfect” (that and he didn’t answer the real question, which always helps)

Romney lost and lost big. Both during the debate and in the post-debate his solutions on the immigration issue represent an extreme xenophobic right wing of the Republican party. His answer on the wiretapping mosques is out of step with American values and hopefully the vast majority of our population. It makes you question how much he understands any part of the culture and history of Islam, fundamentalist and otherwise. What could more isolate us from the moderate arab states who we vitally need in information sharing, tracking, and extradition. Further, Romney’s answer on the Iraq and Iran issues were extremist rather than strategic or sound.

My Takeaways: The focus and tenor of Fox’s debate coverage is a calculated attempt to make their brand of 24/7 crisis coverage and worst case scenarios into national policy. How is the hypothetical scenario question that involves “three bombs have gone off and another is in the offing” have anything to do with actual ongoing crisises like housing, health care, poverty, and education which effect real americans. I hope the American people can see through this veiled attempt of political manipulation which can only serve Fox’s headlines and bottom line. Apparently being “Fair and Balanced” is vastly eclipsed by fear manipulations and the bling in Murdoch’s bank account. To that end, the Fox Attacks and Moveon campaign was 100% on point to not allow the the trajectory of our democracy to be hijacked by the manipulation of Fox executives and staged “focus groups.”

Other Points of Interest from the Post-debate Roundup: Fox Poll by Mobile Voting: 1) Ron Paul 2) Guiliani 3) McCain 4) Huckabee.Latest Update: Huckbee is now in third.Frank Luntz’s studygroup analysis from New Hampshire. Luntz’s focus group favors McCain over Giuliani, although that contradicts their own phone polling data. The audience said that McCain had a very astute explanation on Iraq. They offered multiple reasons: “Sounded presidential. Experience. Very concise, clear. Leadership. Straight talk.”In sharp contrast, they didn’t like Giuliani’s performance. One said, “Could not get away from what he did in NY. Got to get beyond it” In sharp contrast, his answers were based on his empirical experience. I wonder if the polling audience was made up of social conservatives, who don’t like his family issues and abortion stance.This poll seems radically manipulated to me. Fox has an first rate interest in keeping the race close, so targeting frontrunners can only be good for them. Given that Giuliani is roughly tied with Romney for best name recognition, they are the two who will inevitably have the greatest risk of lower expectations.You can find more commentary here, here, and here.