Politics 2012; Picking candidates the American Idol way.

If South Carolina picks Newt Gingrich in the Primary tomorrow, I'll be praying that their streak of picking the nominee ends. If the Republican Party chooses Gingrich as their nominee, I'm betting he'll lose and we'll have four more years of Pres. Obama.

Here's why; Putting aside excuses and making allowances for Gingrich and looking at him with a clear eye at how he will fair as a candidate running against President Obama is necessary to understand why I say this. From the wild racing from candidate to candidate we've witnessed and the pick of Pres. Obama three years ago, it's clear that voters today vote by emotion, not by studying the issues, the candidate's character and positions and how they will govern. Instead, they decide with their feelings; how it makes them feel to support their candidate.

We've been influenced by the 'American Idol' or 'Dancing with the Stars' way of choosing a winner. It doesn't have as much to do with talent and ability. Winners are chosen for emotional reasons, especially if it makes them 'feel good' to vote for a person. Many voted for Pres. Obama because he made them feel like they were doing something special, being part of a movement. It made them feel good about themselves. Another reason people vote for a candidate is because they've been made to feel 'fear' about the opposing candidate. This is a method that is often used in trying to get voters to vote a certain way.

And that brings me back to why I believe Gingrich would lose against the President. His negatives would be very easy to trump up to make voters 'fear' a Gingrich Presidency. Just like the media scared voters at the thought that Sarah Palin might be 'a heartbeat away from the Presidency', they'll do their best to frighten voters that Gingrich in the White House will be like putting the Taliban in the White House.

Republicans must remember that they are not just running against President Obama, but against the Dominant News Media organizations. They have proven they are solidly behind the President and will do everything possible to help him win re-election.

If the Republicans want to have ANY chance of winning, they must recognize how voters choose their candidates. Given the President's inability to turn the economy around, his mistakes in foreign policy and the fact that he can't work within the constitutional system, but seeks to circumvent it whenever possible, it would be wise to choose a nominee who can instill a sense that a capable 'adult' is in charge, who makes people feel 'safe' and hopeful about our future.

Pres. Obama's explanation for his failure is that the economy mess was worse than he thought. But a smart candidate can show the voters that it was the President's bumbling attempts to fix the problem which made it worse(this is much better than telling voters that the President is a Marxist and wants to turn the US into a Socialist Democracy. It may be true, but saying this will bring out a defensive posture that might very well push sympathetic voters into the President's corner. Also, the Republican candidate needs voters who voted for Obama last time to vote for them and pointing out that they chose a Marxist doesn't win them over--it makes them feel dumb and defensive and causes many to slip into denial rather than admit they were wrong and partially responsible for the mess).

Voters don't want more excuses, they want action. A candidate who can make a strong case for why we need someone else to try to fix the problem can deflate the media's attempts to prop the President up by pointing out things as they really are and not allow people to fall for the emotional manipulation which will give us four more years of the same, if not much worse. Heaven help us.