Life Imitating Art

It’s happened again, or, perhaps, not. Maybe I’m stretching a little but does anyone else notice the parallel between what’s going on with our election campaigns with the story line from Kevin Costner’s most recent movie, Swing Vote. In Swing Vote, Costner plays an average Joe (note the similarity to Joe the Plumber) who due to a unique set of circumstances is thrust into the nations spotlight as his vote was deemed invalid and in an unprecedented occurance, the election ends in a tie, whereupon Kostner is required to recast his vote and decide the fate of the nation's election.

How they are able to trace Costner’s errant ballot back to him and require him to re-cast his vote, I have no idea (note Florida 2000), but that’s the story line. As the nation’s citizenry await his decision, the fate of the free world hangs in the balance.

As a result, both presidential campaigns are re-ignited as the candidates must re-direct all of their resources to sway one single voter. The plot takes shape as Grammar and Hopper employ all the political savvy at their disposal to sway Costner’s vote their way.

Needles to say Costner (the “Average Joe”) becomes the focus (and in some ways the symbol) of the nation. And the story revolves in large part around the two presidential candidates’ (Kelsey Grammar and Dennis Hopper) efforts to make their case to Costner.

Are you with me so far?

Well, isn’t that essentially what has happened to our presidential campaign? “Joe the Plumber” may not be casting the deciding vote in this election however, as the nation looked on, Joe the Plumber became the central focus of the final presidential debate. As both candidates spent the bulk of their time catering to this one man who in many ways has become the spokesman for the nation.

I’m just saying.