High-pitched 'support' hurt Kerry

Analysts and others are sifting through exit polls to unravel the story of this presidential election. Many explanations for Mr. Kerry's loss will emerge. However one that I believe will not be given sufficient weight surrounds the role of the "Michael Moore" faction. Mr. Moore, and others like him, George Soros, Peter Lewis, Bruce Springsteen and, locally, guest writers like Jim Omiuet, introduced a visceral strain into this contest unlike any we've seen in recent history.

Apart from their various points of criticism (largely surrounding the war in Iraq), each member of this faction, and their sympathizers, conveyed an underlying tone of moral indignation and intellectual superiority throughout their never ending condemnations of Mr. Bush. This, subtly or not so subtly, transferred to any of his supporters as guilt through association. Thus, a supporter of President Bush was indicted with the same moral and intellectual shortfalls and as a consequence, insulted and made to feel inferior. In my opinion, it is this high pitched persistency of denigration that helped bring out the extra 6 to 7 million voters who offset Mr. Kerry's gains and thus turned the election.

It is not difficult to convince oneself of this mechanism at a deeply emotional level, which is to say, the basis of most human decisions. Simply ask yourself how two individuals, opposed in their ideology, would respond to diatribes like Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 or Mr. Omiuet's Oct. 19 guest opinion in which he likened President Bush to Hitler? A degree in psychology is hardly requisite to guess that the devoted Republican will be angered and seek revenge. Their one and only true outlet was to turn out on Nov. 2. The sympathetic Democratic, on balance, will have been emotionally satisfied and, sadly, feel better. Satisfaction, unfortunately, is not a motivator of action. Thus, the imbalance of turnout.

As evidence, four years ago, 4 million evangelical Christians did not vote, repulsed as they were by portraits of moral decrepitude wrought by the Lewinsky scandal. This year they appear to have shown up in much greater numbers.

Attacking someone for their political disposition with the goal of making them feel inferior is, simply put, stupid. The Michael Moore faction fell prey to this indulgence throughout the entire campaign. Karl Rove, shrewdly saw it as an Achilles heel and, sadly, made Mr. Kerry pay the price.

MARTIN McBIRNEY

Sandpoint