The Mythology of the 2004 Election
Now that the 2004 election is behind us maybe we can develop a bit of historical perspective and set aside the mythology that has dominated post-election commentary. Consider these myths:
Myth One: This election was the most divisive election in the history of the American presidency. The 2004 election had its low moments, but frankly, “divisiveness,” negative campaigning, vehemence and even violence are as much a characteristic of American presidential campaigns as the two-party system. Andrew Jackson went to his grave believing what his opponents said during his first campaign about his beloved wife (she was called an “adulteress” and a “whore”) created sufficient stress to take her life. Grover Cleveland was attacked for fathering an illegitimate child. John F. Kennedy was raked over the political coals for being a Roman Catholic. Divisiveness is just another word for politics-as-usual.
Myth Two: The 2004 election introduced “morality” into presidential politics. While it is true that eleven states passed marriage definition measures, 2004 didn’t corner the morality market. Politics involves choices. Choices are based upon values, which is to say moral philosophy. All politics and all elections are unavoidably “about morality.” The 1864 election that gave Lincoln a second term was about the Union, slavery and emancipation, and civil war. Are these not about morality? In his second inaugural address just one month before his assassination, Lincoln said, “Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other…The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes.” He was talking about morality.
Myth Three: “Fear” was a new method used to scare voters in the 2004 election. “Fear” was deployed in the 2004 campaign, but this is an old trick. The mother of all fear tactics has to be LBJ’s 1964 television commercial featuring a pretty little girl picking flowers while a deep voice-over referenced nuclear war. Abruptly, the little girl disappears in blazing light followed by a picture of a mushrooming cloud. The message? Barry Goldwater is a dangerous man that will blow up the world and your kids. Americans believed it and handed LBJ one of the largest presidential election landslides in history.
Myth Four: Religion played a greater role in the 2004 election than ever before. While George W. Bush regularly expressed his views in religious terms and John F. Kerry was more or less forced to follow suit, this phenomenon is neither new nor necessarily sinister in American presidential politics. Patriotism is the nexus of religion and politics, and virtually all presidential candidates are patriotic. Consequently, they eventually bring their religious convictions to bear in political discourse.
George Washington, Woodrow Wilson, and Calvin Coolidge used religious terminology while campaigning and in high office. In 1976, Jimmy Carter openly talked about being “born again” on his way to the White House, and he clearly relied upon his moderate Christian philosophy in forming his public policy efforts and his approach to the Camp David peace accords, perhaps the high point of his presidency.
A certain amount of mythology always creeps into the mania of post-election analysis as political camps celebrate victory or rationalize losses. Like any mythology, political fantasy may at times serve a useful communicative purpose. The myths are only dangerous if citizens believe them. So do democracy a favor and check out a history book from your local public library. Truth is always more amazing than fiction.
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Published as “The Mythology of the 2004 Election,” The Daily Jeffersonian, (November 22, 2004), p. A-4; Challenger Newspapers, (Week of December 1, 2004), p. 8.
© Rex M. Rogers – All Rights Reserved
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