I’ve heard this phrase so much this election season, and it is nothing but code talk for "white." Rick Davis was telling the truth. The election is not about issues it’s "personalities." John McCain nor Cindy McCain have nothing in common with the average American voter, black, white, Latino, etc. The average voter doesn’t own seven or more homes. The average voter does wear $200,000 to $300,000 outfits. The average voter doesn’t make five million dollars. No, they are not just like us.
As far hunting, fishing, and snowmobiles or four wheelers, that’s recreation and America has many favorite pastimes depending on where you live. In California and Hawaii surfing is huge, in Georgia and Alabama people look forward to deer season and four wheeling. However, just because someone shares an interest in a pastime sport does not mean I want him or her as my president.
I’ll tell you what just like us is... Just like us means worrying about the price of gas. Just like us means making difficult decisions about purchasing a lower level of childcare because the price of gas has eroded the monthly budget or going further into credit card debt to pay for gas to get to work and quality childcare. Just like us means feeding my family less quality foods because the price of groceries has skyrocketed. Just like us means that Hamburger Helper is a weekly staple because ground meat is cheap. Just like us means feeding your family canned vegetables instead of fresh vegetables because fresh fruits and vegetables cost to much.
Just like us means worrying about the deductible for your job sponsored insurance that isn’t so great but better than nothing in case your daughter has to hospitalized for the umpteenth time for asthma, especially with the cost of gas, childcare, food. Just like us means playing Russian Roulette with your mortgage, rent or car payment because the good jobs you and your spouse have are now barely covering basics. Just like us means praying, hoping, working for a better tomorrow because there is no inheritance at the end of the day. Just like us means our sons and daughters are fodder for the war in Iraq while yours stay home and attend college without the help of the GI Bill or financial aid, or if they do go to war, they are damn well protected from situations that put their lives at risk. Just like us means worrying that Social Security isn’t secure. Just like us means living from paycheck to paycheck while hoping that the car doesn’t breakdown, or a kid gets sick. Just like us means that your kids do not get special treatment or affirmative action for coveted jobs or in schools.
I mean for goodness sakes...do we really think John and Cindy McCain would ever invite the Palin family to dinner or allow their children to associate with "those people" if they didn’t want to win at any costs. Call it what you like, but the privileged class Does Not care about "us." "Us" is not even invited to the table. "Us" is only important when contributing to the beer fortune of "them." So all those folks who see "them" as "us" and vice versa keep drinking beer and dreaming. You're in for a terrible hangover or alcohol poisoning.
I see the Palin’s in the role of the infamous "Overseer" during slavery. The "Masters" or land owners used poor whites to do their dirty work. They gave them a few more resources than slaves to make them feel superior. The "Overseers" had no real power and less "good fortune;" however, they took to their role with a vengeance. If poor whites and blacks or the "proletariat" would ever rise and realize that we are us, "oh what a time, what a time it would be." We’re just regular folk. And from where I’m sitting McCain is not just like us.