Fiddler on the Campaign

When Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick were writing Fiddler on the Roof, they were struggling to create an opening number.  Director Jerome Robbins asked them what is the show about, to which they both replied, “Tradition!”  And hence, one of the greatest opening numbers in musical theater was born.   As Mitt Romney’s campaign struggles to win the Republican nomination, and the presidency, they too would be smart to ask, “What is this election/this campaign about?”

Right now, Romney is the prohibitive favorite to win the Republican nomination.  But his inability to win over the conservative base, demonstrates a frailty to frame the central themes of his 2012 presidential run. 

Why should Americans elect Mitt Romney?  Why does Barack Obama really not deserve another term?  Can things actually get better in the USA, or are we in a long-term slump?  All are questions that the Romney campaign needs to answer if it is going to be successful and erase the voices of doubt in the Republican Party. 

Republicans by nature are orderly.  They prefer a primary coronation rather than political bedlam.  For them, the 2012 primary season has gone on long enough, yet no candidate has clearly articulated what their campaign is about, or why they will beat President Obama.  If there were ever a time for Romney to define himself and his campaign, now would be the moment.   

Now granted, in the Arizona Republican Primary debate Romney was asked to define his candidacy in one word.  His response: Resolute?  Not exactly a word that stirs passion or images of progress.  Speaking for myself, I tend to think of the Resolute desk in the Oval Office, and the presidency is more than just furniture.

What made Fiddler so universally loved was that it was a story about tradition in uncertain times.  It opened on Broadway in 1964, and helped the audiences come to terms with the domestic strife being experienced in America at that time.  This reason alone explains why the original New York production ran more than 3,000 performances.

Romney should take note, and his campaign’s message needs to focus more on defining his leadership in these uncertain economic times.  While unemployment has dropped, albeit not by much, things still haven’t gotten better.  Food, housing and energy prices are rising, and American wages are not.   Many American’s are left asking, is this all we can expect from the recovery?

Like the villagers in Fiddler on the Roof, Americans too are living in uncertain times.  The Fiddler symbolized tradition, and helped symbolized a way forward.  Cynics may say that there is more to winning elections than just words, but “Compassionate Conservative” and “Hope/Change” embodied the messages of the last two presidents.  Should Romney want to join their company, he needs to answer Fiddler’s original question: What is this all about?

Note: The author is an unaffiliated Republican primary voter, who will be voting on Super Tuesday.  They have not endorsed a candidate, and are not associated with any political campaign.

Jackie O’s Lasting Valentine

Fifty years ago today (February 14, 1962), American First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy gave a highly publicized, and extraordinarily well-choreographed televised tour of The White House.   For many, it was the first time they would actually see the inside of America’s most famous home, albeit from it a television screen.  For Mrs. Kennedy, the tour was an opportunity to demonstrate and champion art, history, music and the sciences in showcasing American culture.  Five decades later, the tour is her lasting Valentine to this country, and a stalwart reminder that our country is more than military and economic might.

It’s well known that Mrs. Kennedy remains a fashion icon, but her contribution to the arts has always been understated.  While she was instrumental in bringing poets, writers, actors and musicians to The White House, the symbolism behind these actions has never quite been realized.  Her actions are remarkable, given her young age (31), the role of women in 1962 and the potential public backlash for spending so much to redecorate a home few would ever see in person.

Regardless, on February 14, 1962, all three networks covered Mrs. Kennedy as she went room-by-room, explaining the significance behind each piece of furniture and artwork.  It was a breathtaking display of pageantry with genuine human emotions.  The tour connected Americans to the First Lady, but more importantly, it reinforced that importance of the arts in our society.

Today, Mrs. Kennedy’s message is lost amongst budget cuts, skyrocketing ticket prices for cultural events and an intense focus on math and science education.  In 2011, $40 million was cut from the Department of Education’s Arts and Education Program.  The price of a single ticket, non-premium seat at a Broadway show is roughly $155, premium seats range upwards of $400 for a single ticket.  Finally, in two of his State of the Union addresses, President Barack Obama has consistently mentioned the need to better educate American students in math and science. 

Combining all these factors, it’s easy to see how the arts get lost, but that’s the problem.  The National Endowment for the Arts’ motto is, “A great nation deserves great art.”  Why, because the arts make us better writers and thinkers.  Furthermore, the arts have always helped us confront our issues and celebrate are successes as a nation.  One example is the 1993 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play Angels in America.  This show helped America address the AIDS epidemic and helped humanize those suffering.  The arts help inform who we are, how we can overcome our challenges and enhance our dreams for the future.

In 1962, Mrs. Kennedy knew that America was more than a military and economic superpower.  We were a nation of the humanities, and she showed the world the true cultural fabric of our nation.  On this Valentine’s Day, 50 years after her historic tour of The White House, let us recommit ourselves to championing the arts.  Go to a museum, see an opera, take a painting class, attend a lecture….feed your mind!

To Watch Mrs. Kennedy’s Tour click here: Jackie Kennedy 1962 White House Tour