"Gunfight at the Not OK Corral"

One of my all time favorite western movies is "Tombstone", released in 1993.  Set in Tombstone, Arizona the Earp Brothers and Doc Holliday have a shootout at the OK Corral with some members of the Clanton Gang.  In the movie there is no doubt about who the good guys and the bad guys are.  In a dusty, tension filled scene they face each other, hands resting on their guns.  Doc winks at one of the bad guys and, in reaction, the shooting fills the air.  Nothing is really settled that day but conflict fills the rest of the film.  The good news is the bad guys lose.

As the primary presidential political dust seems to be settling I wonder if we are headed for a "gunfight at the Not OK Corral."  The 'war chests' are well stocked with cash, the ads will run over and over and over again, and the 'shooting' at the character of the opposing party candidate will be mean.  And I do not think it is going to take a wink to start the fight.

The dilemma I have is-who are the good guys and who are the bad guys?  While I have a definite political perspective and will work to have one of them win I am disappointed at the way both sides will portray the other candidate as 'the bad guy.'  Is either candidate really a bad person?  We may disagree with their political perspective but I will not call either of them evil or criticize their person.  Yet that is likely to happen in the media coverage, in the 'talking heads' television and radio shows, and too often in our own conversations.

I am concerned that, beginning in May, our political landscape will take us to the Not OK Corral where winning is everything.  Ads will fly like bullets and shooting will continue until November.  Half-truths, edited quotes taken out of context, and often frightening talk about will happen to America if the other guy wins will be the weapons this time.  When the dust clears and the voting polls close will the good guys or the bad guys win?  And how will I know?

"Tombstone" is one of the few films I will watch again and again.  "Campaign 2012-Gunfight at the Not OK Corral" is a film I will be glad is over and gone from the screen of American life.  The meanness of the current political environment will likely produce a film few will enjoy.