Over the last couple of weeks, Heretical Ideas along with The Glittering Eye has been focusing on the actual issues of the presidential election.  Where others, including the candidates themselves, are content to concentrate their efforts on a more negative approach, we at Heretical Ideas are more interested in the facts.  Here’s an example of the type of negative tripe I’m talking about:

In keeping with a much more serious tone, realizing what’s at stake with this election, the next article in the series will focus on something deeply personal to each of the candidates.  Furthermore, this article will focus on an issue that is crucial for our nation too as it prepares for a volitile global economy and the ever-present danger of global terrorists.  And let’s not forget other problems of globalization; the infestation of little keychain globes made out of cheap metal and welded poorly together causing a sharp, raised equatorial rim.  That issue is: movies.

“But Brian, why are the candidates’ favorite movies such an important issue?”  You ask.  Oh, you would ask that wouldn’t you?  That’s so like you.  Well, I’ll tell you why.  Because how better to know someone than to know how they fantasize?  Let me explain.

When we watch movies we place ourselves within the narrative.  However, in order to do so takes risk.  It’s risky to identify with something.  We put a lot of emotion into it.  Hence, if we like a movie, we will defend it to death because we see ourselves as the hero.  If we don’t like it, we will rant and rave about how bad it is and how badly its breath stinks because we put a lot into it and we are pissed off that Leonardo DiCaprio dies at the end!  That’s Bullshit!

So when someone tells you what their favorite movie is, what they are really saying is, “This is how I see myself.”  Let’s try it out with the candidates and maybe their potential Vice Presidents as well.  And despite years of hearing the lies about who they are (or in the case of Sarah Palin, weeks), we’ll finally get to see the real presidential nominees.

Senator Barack Obama, Democratic Nominee

On his Facebook page Barack Obama lists his favorite movies as:The Godfather Part I and II, Lawrence of Arabia, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.  So, what do these movies say about Barack Obama?  Well, let me play both sides.  If you are a Republican you’d say that his resemblence to Micheal Corleone can be directly related to the brutality and corruption of the Chicago political machine.  Lawrence of Arabia?  Sure, he’s a sympathizer to the cause of those like our enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan.  And One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest?  This is an easy one.  That he thinks he’s experienced enough to lead means he a certifiable nutcase!  If only he had the cool reserve and strength of will that Nurse Ratched had, then he’d be a suitable Commander-in-Chief.

A Democrat would view this much differently.  His appreciation for The Godfather I and II but not III shows his extraordinary judgement.  That he relates to Michael Corleone shows his cunning and that, in using the mafia as a metaphor for government - and really, it’s not that far off, right? - Obama is a pragmatist.  Sure, Fredo’s his brother, but he has just got to go, if you know what I mean.  And that Obama sees himself as Sir Lawrence means that he isn’t a crazy nationalist like the conservatives, he’s a citizen of the world, a son of freedom, and ultimately, a civilizer.  And, of course, he like’s wearing white dresses.  Just not after Labor Day.  Where Republicans view Obama as crazy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Democrats see him as a liberator, and agent of change if you will, from the tyrannical authority of our bureaucracy.

Senator John McCain, Republican Nominee

On Senator McCain’s Facebook page, he lists his favortite movies as Viva! Zapata, Letters from Iwo Jima, and Some Like it Hot.  What would a Democrat say about these?  For one, they would wonder if he was rooting for the fascist land owners who exploited the workers in southern Mexico.  They would also figure the movie was historically accurrate since McCain was there.  For Letters from Iwo Jima, the Democrats would say that it is typical of McCain to praise violence and war, no matter who was the actor and who was the victim.  And Some Like It Hot is the usual conservative mockery of gay, transvestite, or transgendered persons.  What a bigot!  Of course, they would quietly joke that it is typical of Republicans to oppose gay marriage, but dress in drag or engage in gay sex in a regular hypocritical fashion.

Republicans would note that John McCain’s love of freedom is reflected in his love of Viva! Zapata.  What better way to put your country first than to put someone else’s country first?  There’s also a rigid sense of fairness and honesty and leadership.  McCain clearly knows how to identify with Jose Plumber, unlike his elitist counterparts.  In Letters from Iwo Jima, there is proof that McCain is not a racist or a warmonger.  See, he likes Japanese folk!  He can identify with them and their valiant fighting against…us.  After we drop a nuke on the middle east, in 60 years, we’ll be friends with them too!  And hey, some like it cold, McCain likes it hot!  What a Maverick!  He proves that he is not out of touch and that he is hip with new, relevant comedies.

The Vice Presidents

Unlike the regular candidates, the Veeps were rather weak in their selections.  Here’s the Katie Couric asking both candidates about their favorite movies:

Joe Biden says his favorite movie is Chariots of Fire.  Booooring!  Particularly, he enjoys the movie because of the strong religious statement this makes.  He chooses not to run on the Sabbath, Biden says, and this is inspiring.  Of course, he does end up running and all, but whatever.  I don’t really think that Biden should “go there.”  Pulling the whole religious, moral stance here when the other side is hounding you on the “abortion” thing just doesn’t seem like a winning strategy.  Of course, the worst part about it is he seems like the creepy uncle in this interview.  Okay, every interview.  He’s so swarmy and it doesn’t help this image to start digging in on religious conviction.  That sorta just seals the deal on creepiness.

Sarah Palin is no better.  It seems like every chance she gets to speak is her attempting to prove she’s worthy to be in the same room with the other candidates.  When she throws out that she likes Rudy and Hoosiers, it’s fine.  That she mentions them because the team takes pity on Rudy and decides he should “participate” in the game just to show he can is kinda sad.  She also likes these movies because she enjoys rooting for the underdogs.  Why is she also comparing herself with dogs?  If we can agree on anything about the Alaskan Governor, it’s that she is not a dog.  I figured she would go with Mystery, Alaska because of the hockey schtick.  But, my guess is she wanted to avoid the joking headlines: Who is McCain’s VP?  Mystery of Alaska.  Or something about the stereotype that Alaska is well far removed from the rest of the country to the point they talk about secession.  The other obvious movie I thought she’d pick was that one with Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, and James Garner.  Now what was that one again.  Hmmm…I can’t seem to recall the name of that mov…oh yeah!  Maverick.

Conclusion

Both McCain and Obama pick some really great films as their favorites.  If this is true reflection of themselves, then I think it says a lot about both.  Obama is cunning and politically ruthless, but practical like Corleone.  He’s also a lone, lost man like Rick in Casablanca who’s predilection is choosing the right path amidst a lot of bad people (ie Senators).  McCain, the real McCain, not this imposter running this campaign, is truly a Maverick.  He understands the need for harsh military action, but is not unsympathetic to the other side.  He’s not the run-of-the-mill Republican the campaign makes him out to be.  He may wear a dress, but that doesn’t make him a woman.

The VP picks are lame sports analogies and there isn’t much depth to them at all.  Not unlike the VP nominees, come to think of it.  This is important to note as many have said that each of the tickets should be switched with Palin in the lead on the Republican side and Biden on the Democrat side.  If these silly movie choices do nothing else, it does prove that this should definitely not be the case.  The right people are running for the right office.