Maybe this election campaign is no different from any other, if we accept that the amount of misinformation or outright lies is as overwhelming as ever. There are, however, some differences. It began with the emergence of Barack Obama as a captivating orator, someone who was later labeled as a star by his opponent, with the word star used as a pejorative. When senator McCain’s vice presidential choice, Sarah Palin, emerged from the wilderness a second star was born (but now the word star was no longer a pejorative). Before going into the level of candor displayed by either side we ought to clarify the distinction between running for president or vice president. The presidential candidate is responsible for himself or herself alone; the vice presidential candidate needs to be cognizant of the boss’s position, to be an advocate for the boss, and to be less concerned about decorum when going to the attack. Within those parameters, the vice presidential candidate can be more of a demagogue – indeed must be a demagogue unless he or she shares the president’s views on every topic.
So, we can accept demagoguery from a vice presidential candidate even if we don’t entirely condone it. But what about demagoguery from the presidential candidate? I don’t believe that’s acceptable under any circumstances, because that would be the deliberate selling of ideas and positions to win the election – not as a misinterpretation of someone else’s ideas or as a misguided display of enthusiasm, but as mendacity applied for the basest motives. Lenin and Hitler were good demagogues – their true and full agendas emerged only after they gained power, although I don’t mean to compare Lenin and Hitler on any other level; the perversity of the nazi leader was unique in the history of world.
The distinction between orators and demagogues is worth bearing in mind as we get nearer election day. American history boasts a large number of orators amongst its presidents, senators, and many other notables. The demagogues have brought us the KKK and the McCarthy hearings. You can doubtless cite your own examples.