Why do campaigns tout their supporters as, or claim to represent the desires of,
ordinary Americans? Who among us considers thyself plain, humdrum, second-rate, boring, ordinary Americans? Are there legions of Americans who stand up and proudly proclaim that they are just run-of-the-mill ordinary? "Nothing excites me. I can't think of anything that is going to make me shout, 'hey, I'm American, but I am unique, I am special, I have experiences, feelings and goals that are not exactly like anyone else?!' Nothing interesting about us, I'm just here for the donuts, just try not to screw up too badly my elected official, k thx!"
To the campaigns, ordinary is really code for those who aren't political junkies, major and regular political contributors or people who may not be on a first name basis with the majority of their political representatives. That hardly makes them any bit ordinary. Let's dump the ordinary label shall we? Who really wants to be considered ordinary when their political representatives take office? Not I. You know what sort of leverage you have with elected officials if you are considered just ordinary? What leaders want ordinary constituents anyway? Don't they want informed, educated, motivated and concerned constituents? If they want change, if they want to fight for me, I certainly don't want them to be ordinary. If they really share my background and values, then presumably they wouldn't be ordinary either. I want them to be creative, forceful yet reasoned, inspirational, but pragmatic, responsible and careful.
Definitely NOT ordinary.
So what are we? Traditional Americans? Perhaps. Eager Americans? Not exactly. Interested Americans, yes, but not quite the label we're looking for. Imaginative Americans? Sometimes, but not to the point of loopy. Ideal Americans? No one is one of those. Proud Americans. Yep, that's getting at it. Someone call George Lakoff.
Just don't call me ordinary. What kind of American are you?