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November 30, 2007 > Opinion > Candidates campaign against attention spans

Candidates campaign against attention spans

By Stephen Whitfield | Thresher Editorial Staff

When it comes to politics, Americans seem to have a general opinion: We do not know and we do not care.

Actually, that is not an opinion, that is a fact. Voter turnout in presidential elections routinely hovers around 50 percent, and on the state and local levels it is far worse. I mean, how many Texans among us can name a single thing Rick Perry has done in his seven years as governor? Or how often our state legislature meets? Or anything even remotely relevant about their city governments?

Let’s face it: We’re not exactly avid followers of the political scene.

I know, I know. This column sounds like it is going to be one of those rants bemoaning American apathy that I am sure so many of you are tired of reading right now, but that is not the case. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, I believe that Americans care a lot about politics. In fact, I believe we care too much. And to support this claim of mine, I need look no further than the 2008 presidential election.

I am as big of an American political junkie as there is, and already I have had my fill of election news. With five weeks remaining before the Iowa caucuses, the Democrats and Republicans have held a combined 27 debates. Almost all of these debates have been televised on a major cable or broadcast news network. For the better part of a year now, it has been commonplace to hear talking heads obsess over that latest two-point surge in the polls and the most insignificant statements from the candidates. Did you hear what John Edwards had to say about Hillary Clinton’s dress? Well, if you didn’t it will probably be on Anderson Cooper 360 later tonight — or the O’Reilly Factor if that floats your boat. It seems that everywhere I turn, someone is holding a panel discussion on whether or not Arthur Branch … er, Fred Thompson’s trophy wife will hurt him in the general election. This is pure madness.

One could look at the insane amount of media coverage and say that it is just a byproduct of the times we live in, with 24-hour news dominating the landscape. But the media only responds to public interest. If people did not care about the upcoming election so much, networks like CNN would not bother covering it. And really, what are they covering? At this point, the election is nothing more than a dog-and-pony show. No politician in his or her right mind is going to say anything of relevance a year before the election. When I see a debate with eight people on stage each trying to describe policy in 30 seconds, I cannot possibly take it seriously.

Eager to have a greater say in the nominating process, states are moving their primary elections earlier and earlier — 36 states will hold primaries or caucuses before the end of February, essentially locking up the nominations before Spring Break. Candidates are now forced to enter the race much earlier than before. Hillary Clinton all but entered the race on Jan. 20, a solid two years before the next president’s inaugural. Her husband, Bill Clinton, didn’t announce his candidacy for the 1992 election until Oct. 3, 1991.

The front-runners have already raised staggering amounts of money. When the fourth quarter reports come out in January, Clinton and Barack Obama will probably have raised a combined $200 million between them. Compare that to just 20 years ago, when all 18 candidates for the Democratic nomination raised a whopping $149 million combined — adjust for inflation and that would be just over $250 million by that same point. Just think what that kind of money could do to help solve some of the problems in our country.

I am not saying that it is wrong for Americans to take any kind of active interest in politics, of course not. I am just worried that we are failing to see the larger picture here. With so much going on in the world right now, it is very worrisome for America’s political leaders to be devoting so much time and energy to an election this early. Sooner or later, we will be in a state of perpetual elections where candidates declare themselves for the presidency almost as soon as the old president gets sworn in. It would be a travesty, but I guess I could look on the bright side. If so many people care about choosing our leader this much, perhaps others will stop calling us apathetic, right?

Stephen Whitfield is a Sid Richardson College senior and editor in chief.

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