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SALT LAKE CITY — This year - perhaps especially this year - the public is picking up the tone that reflects the reality of politics: The "game" is really war. And a lot of people don't like what they're seeing.
It's almost humorous, though, when people act outraged or shocked at pieces of the game as it unfolds.
For example, when President Obama announced his support for gay marriage and most recently his executive order to stop deportation of young undocumented children, outraged critics ranted for days on talk shows.
"It's all just political," they complained. "They're just manipulating voters."
As Mao Tse Tung wrote in 1938, "Politics is war without bloodshed. War is politics with bloodshed."
Sorry if I sound cynical, but of course it's all political.
Mitt Romney is doing the same thing. On immigration, Romney's tough rhetoric during the Republican presidential primaries and his reputation for flip flopping for political benefit have actually boxed him into a corner. Look forward to more family media appearances as his campaign works to "humanize" him and soften his reputation.
"How dare the President/candidate pull a such a stunt in an election year," seems to be what critics say.
Voters are becoming more sophisticated. They know what to look for, and can spot a phony instantly.
The pseudo-outrage reminds me of a scene from the classic film "Casablanca," when the Germans order Rick's club closed suddenly and his friend and police chief Renault carries out the order.
Rick: How can you close me up? On what grounds?
Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
[a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]
Croupier: Your winnings, sir.
Captain Renault: Oh, thank you very much.
Like the time period in which Casablanca takes place, World War II, war is in the background of this year's political campaign. Like war, it's "scary expensive," full of deception, false impressions and outright lies.
As Mao Tse Tung wrote in 1938, "Politics is war without bloodshed. War is politics with bloodshed."
There are hints of this philosophy in Utah politics, but it hasn't gotten too obvious — but it might this year.
Super PACs are pumping huge amounts of cash and removal of responsibility into the mix. Utah saw Super PACs enter the U.S. Senate race with Orrin Hatch early. Ads and fliers paid for with Super PAC money had both candidates for Utah Attorney General, John Swallow and Sean Reyes, denying any connection to the ads.
In spite of a world of problems, there always seems to be plenty of money to fund a war — a political campaign.
In the middle/so-called end of the recent recession, people are giving huge amounts of cash to both the Romney and Obama campaigns. $50,000-a-plate fundraisersare going on all over the country.
War is having the attitude that the enemy must be destroyed, and in politics, plenty of people have been destroyed in the past; maybe this November.
