Republican presidential nominee, Arizona Senator John McCain, speaks on the passage of the financial bailout bill on October 3, 2008, upon arrival in Flagstaff, Arizona. Mandel Ngan/AFP
Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama at a rally at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on Sept. 27, 2008. Alex Brandon/AP
Tala Al Ramahi
Forget Project Runway and The Apprentice. My family and I are obsessed with a different kind of reality TV show right now; one that is not lacking in the drama, unexpected twists, and yes, humor of reality shows. The race for the White House is something that has kept me glued to YouTube and my dad confined to the walls of our family television room.
Neither of us are American, and yet the outcome of the 2008 presidential race concerns us indirectly. Now more than ever, in fact. If the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have taught us anything, it is that American politics and the repercussions of decisions made in Washington rarely stay in America (let alone Washington), and more likely than not, the outcome of such decisions will reverberate and be felt across the Middle East.
Dealing with America’s dependency on foreign oil, choosing whether to negotiate with hardline rulers, the withdrawal (or surge) of American troops — even the collapse of Wall Street and the overall gloomy US economy, are all issues that extend well beyond American shores. And so our intrigue with the outcome of this particular American reality show is less about entertainment (although there is that) and more about the concern for our own self-interest.
First there was Hilary Clinton, the first lady turned senator turned presidential contender, who won more primaries and delegates than any other female candidate in American history. Then came her loss to Barack Obama, the first African American presidential nominee of any major political party, whose surname has an uncanny resemblance to the first name of one of the world’s most wanted people. “Is he, or isn’t he Muslim” was one of the biggest questions Americans were concerned about — as if his religious affiliation meant that he was less capable of doing the job. (Just for the record, he isn’t.)
Then, of course, there was McCain’s surprising (no, dumbfounding) choice for a running mate. “Who the hell is she?”, I wondered to myself as I jogged on, while simultaneously watching the breaking news that popped on my mini treadmill screen. I’ve been following most episodes of this show, so why did I not recognize the newest addition to the cast? I became increasingly worried when my dad, an avid political observer, did not know who she was either. No wonder. Most Americans did not know who Sarah Palin was. Then we were introduced. And we listened. And frankly became a little uneasy. (So did Katie Couric, I am assuming). Too bad Palin could not see the Middle East from her window. At least then, she would have some kind of foreign policy “experience.”
For Americans, this presidential race is turning into one hell of an interesting show. By voting, they can try to (somewhat) influence the direction it is heading to and the ending it will have. For us (non-Americans) who are watching from abroad, we can only watch and hope, and hold our breaths that Season 2 of this reality show, which commences in November, is not a “dramedy”. Or worse, a thriller. For America’s sake...and also for ours.
Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, speaks during a rally in Carson, California, on Oct. 4, 2008. Chris Carlson/AP