General Trends Toward the Lowest Common Denominator

Base Tactics in the 2008 Presidential Race

I had decided to not comment on the presidential race, allowing political bloggers to give better-informed commentary; but I’ve just got to make a few observations at this decidedly low point of the competition, only 11 days prior to election day.

This is a perfect occasion to introduce another regular feature of this blog, ‘General Trends Toward the Lowest Common Denominator (LCD).’

A figurative use of the term [LCD] is as a rhetorical device in criticism of mass
media. When a media outlet has been charged with appealing to the ‘lowest
common denominator,’ it means they have targeted the lowest, meanest, crudest,
most basic and perhaps prurient of all possible hopes and dreams of their
intended audience.

The mass media isn’t the only guilty practitioner of this sort of appeal—the Republican candidates have begun to use this divisive tactic increasingly as the election process comes to a close.

What’s tragically amusing to me is that a number of people who fit into the right-wing conservative category also claim to be religious, and in fact, Christian. I continually lament, ‘Where have all the standards gone, long time ago?’ Note these passages from the ultimate Standard-Setter:

…man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
I Samuel 16:7

These…things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look….
Proverbs 6:16-17a

Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join
forces, none will go unpunished.
Proverbs 16:5

Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18

A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin.
Proverbs 21:4

…Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Acts 10:34-35

…in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Philippians 2:3b

‘Haughtiness’ and ‘pride’ are used in these contexts to describe someone who considers himself superior to another human being or group of human beings. The basis is material/fleshly and can be race, gender, ethnicity, etc. Racially-based appeals are the issue here.

If Christ is humanity’s example of how to live uprightly in this present world, then we should follow His example. After all, Christ lived a life in perfect accordance with God’s will. In just the passages above, we see that 1) God examines each person’s heart (will, intellect and emotions), not his skin color, to determine character; 2) God despises the attitude of those who think more highly of themselves than they ought; 3) this attitude leads to spiritual destruction; and 4) God isn’t a respecter of persons.

So, how is it that these people irresponsibly identify themselves as ‘Christian?’ This is nonsense at its peak. The Yee-Haw Brigade (and all others with similar mindsets, as you will see below) make matters very difficult for both their political parties and, far more importantly, for Christianity.

Instead of McCain gaining votes by speaking on relevant, pressing issues; he and Palin have desperately appealed to hate and fear, whether latent or overt, on the part of these misinformed people. At recent rallies, supporters have shouted out, “kill him!” in reference to Sen. Obama. Obama has been compared to Curious George, a chimpanzee; and monkey dolls have been dressed up to resemble him. We’ve also seen Obama Bucks created in graphic form, in which the Senator’s image is placed on food stamp currency and stereotypical icons of fried chicken and watermelon, among others, are featured. The low-lifes who created this graphic were from a ‘prestigious’ California suburb, not backwoods America.

Question: How will this candidate, if elected, handle truly pressing matters when he is under fire if he campaigns in this manner? I imagine that Republicans who have some modicum of sense are sorely disappointed with this recent behavior. Barack Obama, by contrast, appears far more noble in valiant efforts to continue on the high road despite the Republicans’ crude behavior.

There is a passage in Paul’s letter to the Romans that reads, “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you…” A number of people are turned off by Christianity because of hypocrisy. It casts a base, ugly shadow on the true system of faith that is Christianity. Racial hypocrisy casts the most contemptible of these shadows.


Some related links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Esocs9qPRY&feature=related
http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1430-voting-option-or-obligation
http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/146-the-tragedy-of-racism

Source:

Wikipedia.org. “Lowest Common Denominator” Retrieved October 22, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowest_Common_Denominator