Yesterday, I commented on a diary. After commenting back and forth over a position that I had made regarding the lack of substance with the soap opera style of diaries that have been posted over the past week, I received the final comment,
I admire your high-mindedness, but unfortunately issues have nothing to do with presidential electins. N-O-T-H-I-N-G. The results will be based on image and personality.
which left me thinking about the comment that was made and the issue of personality between our two parties candidates. A similar comment was made by Rick Davis, McCain campaign manager,
McCain Manager: 'This Election is Not About Issues'
If the Election is about personality and not issues, lets go there. What personality types do the McCain/Palin ticket represent?
A definition used in both political science and sociology is the Authoritarian Personality and after researching the issue further can be said to fit very well the personalities found running the Republican party and the country.
The way I see it, most personalities representing the Republican party for many years and most recently McCain/Palin screams authoritarianism. More importantly I see and hear traits of fascism in the speeches and comments made by these two republican personalities.
We need to know how the authoritarian personality is defined and how it manifests and also show the close link between this authoritarian personality style and the fascist. Furthermore, we need to look at whether McCain and Palin fit into this personality type in thinking and action. One question I would ask, was this nation founded on authoritarian principals and do the people today understand what authoritarianism in our democracy looks like?
Is our democratic tradition based on an authoritarian doctrine? I dont think so but I would further venture to say that there have been acts (Patriot Act for one) and movements changing this democracy for some time.
Authoritarian Personality is defined:
au·thor·i·tar·i·an personality (-thôr-târ-n)n.A personality pattern reflecting a desire for security, order, power, and status, with a desire for structured lines of authority, a conventional set of values or outlook, a demand for unquestioning obedience, and a tendency to be hostile toward or use as scapegoats individuals of minority or nontraditional groups.
With the definition we have a better idea of what the personality debate this election is going to be about and can now take what we know about the personalities of those within our political cycle and come to some ideas about how their personalities relate to this definition.
And to be aware of where this may be heading, now we must define
Fascism
fas·cism n.1. often Fascism
a. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
b. A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government.
- Oppressive, dictatorial control.
It appears this definition fits the personalities of many in our political spectrum. I feel that America has been headed for some time in the direction of supression through authority. And how about the secrecy? Recent events facilitated by the patriot act, police actions at both political conventions and even the talking points used by candidate McCain and his Vice Presidential pick all show clears signs of the authoritarian personality at work. Would it be safe to say that suppression of the media is a clear sign of this authoritarian personality run amuck toward a fascist movement? The corporate personalities (they do have the status of a person) controlling this media show a blatant bias for the neo-conservative agenda. Suppressing the truth is a sure sign of how the republican party machine is trying to take control of free speech, unbiased journalism, journalistic integrity. What I really despise is the media's willingness to self censor but, then again, look what happened to Phil Donohue for his failure to self censor, Democracy Now and others for covering the protests at the conventions.
The MSM has shown its vulnerability to the authoritarian personalities and the unwillingness to produce unbiased journalism forgoes integrity altogether, lie outright when discussing both presidential candidates, their respective parties and views. Fox News anyone?
I'm sure that all of you who watched the Republican National Convention this past week found the lies and belittling of the opposing party's candidates by the personalities chosen to speak (good authoritarians all) petty, predictable and very far from reality. From Romney to Guiliani, Palin to McCain we saw just about everything we know and love about the democratic candidate characterized as something to boo and sneer and belittle; not to present a viewpoint on the issues but to belittle, smear and pander to the authoritarian personality.
Without free and unbiased media we must try to sort out the facts and come to our own conclusions in evaluating the information presented and come to a final analysis of what exactly the personality race is really about. I would be inclined to say that both McCain and Palin's personalities fit very well the definition of the authoritarian, headed towards fascism. If the election is about personalities and not issues, I say "bring it on"!