The Mask Slips

Thanks to Allen J. Schaben of the Los Angeles Times for this photo and to Zombie for the context.

Pat Caddell, a prominent Democratic Party pollster, showcases America’s current national security policy in an interesting way.  He notes the disparate treatment between the protections afforded Chris Stevens in Libya and Valerie Jarrett in Martha’s Vineyard.

According to Ben Shapiro at Breitbart.com, Libyan Ambassador Stevens did not have a Marine detail in Benghazi, Libya, but White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett received a full Secret Service detail while on vacation at Martha’s Vineyard.  Foreign Service officers function without the armed protection of our government, while Democratic Party senior operatives receive the elite protection of our Secret Service.

What’s wrong with this picture?  Not a thing, if you understand the power and authority of the Democratic Party.  Americans are pawns, and our culture is engaged in splitting us into “good guys” and “bad guys.”  A few examples:

--The “Freedom of Expression” Grouping

Andres Serrano’s Immersion (Piss Christ) is celebrated in our culture.  So is The Holy Virgin Mary by Chris Ofili.  In contrast, the work of the gentleman shown above in the midnight “perp walk” is not being celebrated.  Our culture lets us know that art denigrating “The Religious Right” is good; works that embarrass the Democratic Party are bad.

--The “Equal Protection under the Law” Categorization

Members of the New Black Panther Party are granted exemption from our laws along with major Democratic Party contributors.  Unfortunately, Sheldon Adelson (a contributor to Republican political candidates) is now subject to IRS and NLRB investigations, and the Koch brothers, (supporters of Republican causes) suffer incessant verbal abuse.  Our federal agencies are  being used to reward allegiance to the Democratic Party and to punish Republicans.

--The “Promote the General Welfare” Classification

The contrast between the security detail for Valerie Jarrett and the safety of those who serve in the Foreign Service is a case of political emphasis.  A similar situation occurred at the Democratic National Convention earlier this month when the American military was honored. The backdrop for the presentation was a graphic of Russian warships and Turkish jet fighters.

The DNC ended up giving our military a token observation of service to country with an emphasis on the generic nature of their work.  If the United States Military were a Democratic Party identity group (e.g. young single women, people with dark skin tone, people with Hispanic ethnicity), proper recognition might have been afforded.  It is disappointing that our military is a DNC afterthought.

The three Constitutional ideals listed above are an abstraction to many people.  They are protections that we expect in America, but we don’t feel the need to “man the barricades” just because the Rule of Law is under assault or our First Amendment rights are losing protection.  Instead, we hear a single direct message delivered to us day in and day out:

Americans have a choice.  We can get free stuff – free healthcare, free education, and free birth control – or we can have bad people (Republicans) put in charge.

That is what our culture puts forward as the choice for Americans.  It is a coordinated election message, and its simplicity gives it power.

But if you look carefully, the mask is slipping.

UPDATE 9/27/2012:
Courtesy of Matt Drudge, we have evidence that the "free stuff" message is working.

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