U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TRYING TO BE 'RELATABLE'
The New Indian Express|November 04, 2024
Employment at a junk food restaurant is the equivalent of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi having meals in Dalit homes. In the end, both these gimmicks amount to glorification of poverty
K P NAYAR
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TRYING TO BE 'RELATABLE'

ELECTIONS in the United States are great equalizers, when there is an epic struggle to convince voters that the candidates are one of 'them'. The presidential election season in 2024 is no different.

If the US Constitution is amended to stipulate that when the White House falls vacant every four years, new applicants for tenancy should be at least millionaires, it would lend a sense of realism to American presidential elections. Candidates for the most powerful political office in the world would not then have to engage in ridiculous antics such as serving French fries at a McDonald's drive-in counter to identify themselves with ordinary voters, as Republican Donald Trump did in late October.

Candidates competing to occupy the White House, especially from the Republican Party, are more often than not multimillionaires, if not billionaires. Trump is only the latest example. Previous Grand Old Party nominees John McCain of the Anheuser-Busch beer conglomerate family, the Bush household and their vice president Dick Cheney—with vast oil industry connections, and film actor Ronald Reagan were all infinitely wealthy.

Long gone are the days when Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican chief executive who was not a millionaire, could rise from a humble log cabin to presidency.

In the third millennium, Democrats are not very different. There was a time when presidential nominees from the Democratic Party were more aam aadmi, as Indians would say. Their lives and fortunes were more like the millions who vote for them. Democrat Harry Truman was the poorest president in US history.

In 1949, the US Congress had to double Truman's salary so he could make both ends meet in the White House. The US presidency became a pensionable job only in 1958—because Truman, by then a retiree, was slipping into penury.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 04, 2024-Ausgabe von The New Indian Express.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 04, 2024-Ausgabe von The New Indian Express.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESSAlle anzeigen
Financial Independence Of Women Matters
The New Indian Express

Financial Independence Of Women Matters

However, the situation in India demands steps like these to enhance the participation of women in the workforce.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 25, 2024
Stories soaked in wisdom
The New Indian Express

Stories soaked in wisdom

The art of storytelling has played an important role in preserving India's cultural history. We take a look at one vertical, Harikatha, and how one can appreciate the content.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 25, 2024
The New Indian Express

Live-action Moana wraps filming

PRODUCTION on Disney's live-action adaptation of Moana (2016) has been wrapped.

time-read
1 min  |
November 25, 2024
A Pallava era Siva temple with rare images
The New Indian Express

A Pallava era Siva temple with rare images

INAR, originally called Thirukannar and Nethrapuram, is a small village near Madhurantakam which has an ancient temple for Siva worshipped as Nethrapurishwarar.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 25, 2024
The New Indian Express

Idris Elba to star in Masters of the Universe

Idris Elba is in talks to join the cast of the upcoming live-action Masters of the Universe film.

time-read
1 min  |
November 25, 2024
Chess masters shine at tourney
The New Indian Express

Chess masters shine at tourney

INTERNATIONAL Master AR Ilamparthi scored 7.5 points at the end of the eighth and final round and won the Singh's Gambit International Fide Rated Chess Tournament-2024 title here at Guru Nanak College, Velachery.

time-read
1 min  |
November 25, 2024
Bringing pages to stage
The New Indian Express

Bringing pages to stage

The library corner at the American Centre, US Consulate General Chennai, was abuzz with energy, a kaleidoscope of colours as women, draped in saris, filled the room.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 25, 2024
Jest being jolly
The New Indian Express

Jest being jolly

The sound of laughter reverberated through Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall, Chetpet, over the weekend, for the International Clown Festival was in town.

time-read
1 min  |
November 25, 2024
IN REMEMBRANCE OF A GREAT MIND
The New Indian Express

IN REMEMBRANCE OF A GREAT MIND

I have been associated with Dr. Badri since 1977. He was my mentor,\" said TS Surendran, chairman of Sankara Nethralaya and director of pediatric ophthalmology.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 25, 2024
Set for board exam: Gukesh plotting to lift India to pinnacle of chess world
The New Indian Express

Set for board exam: Gukesh plotting to lift India to pinnacle of chess world

Viswanathan Anand, the owner of five world titles, tried for one final time. But the young world champion, Magnus Carlsen, kept the door shut.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 25, 2024