By Mike Matejka
The Democratic convention will wrap up tonight, the Republicans had their show last week. Looking at the tone of both conventions, it looks like each party’s messaging will offer voters two very different views.
Donald Trump had adopted Richard Nixon’s famous “Law and Order” mantra. With ISIS abroad, shootings in our cities and fear of terrorism, the Trump message will be one of control. Trump will project himself as the strong man who can keep the enemy at bay. Now, it’s easy political rhetoric to say that one is going to destroy ISIS, something probably easier said than done. But with terrorist attacks happening in various European countries, one can understand the message and its appeal. Now there are big differences in how different nationalities are integrated or not integrated into European society, but all it takes is one individual, whether ISIS connected or not, to carry out an attack to heighten security concerns. The Trump campaign has always been weak on specifics, but the message still comes through clearly.
In contrast, Clinton’s message is in many ways a replay of Obama’s Hope message of eight years ago, but with a feminist flavor. By emphasizing child care, family needs and economic issues, Clinton will seek to rally people to help uplift their individual circumstances. On the foreign policy front, she can point to her tenure as Secretary of State, though that will often raise more issues than support for her. Ever since she was attacked as first lady in 1993, for getting involved in policy issues, she’s been portrayed as tough and brittle. She came into the White House in 1993 thinking that she would be a political partner to Bill Clinton, just like Eleanor Roosevelt was with Franklin. Instead, she was blasted and told to stay in the kitchen and make cookies. I think Bill Clinton was right in his convention speech to say that she’s been reduced to a caricature. The convention speakers worked hard to show her as a caring, thoughtful person, a typical mother and a grand-mother. Breaking the stereotype she’s been saddled with is perhaps her biggest obstacle.
Voters also project their own interests into the election cycle. We’ll have a stark contrast this time. Some will accuse Clinton of playing the Woman card, but in a sense, Trump is playing the Man card, projecting swagger and unabashed self-confidence. How voters view the larger world stage, whether they are seeking security or uplift, and how they read these two personalities, will certainly make the 100 days between now and November 8 very interesting, and hopefully, not discouraging.
Mike Matejka is the Governmental Affairs director for the Great Plains Laborers District Council, covering 11,000 union Laborers in northern Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. He lives in Normal. He served on the Bloomington City Council for 18 years, is a past president of the McLean County Historical Society and Vice-President of the Illinois Labor History Society.
The opinions expressed within WJBC’s Forum are solely those of the Forum’s author, and are not necessarily those of WJBC or Cumulus Media, Inc.
