The GOP nomination now appears to hinge upon whether Ted Cruz, anti-hero, and Marco Rubio, hero, rewrite the election narrative redefining Donald Trump as the villain.
Last August I wrote here:
Donald Trump has engaged the popular imagination by embodying the “quest/(anti-)hero’s journey” — here a naked quest for power and glory. Trump’s Story is that of striving to crown himself, much as did Napoleon, Emperor.
Contrast Trump’s Story with the Stories presented by the rest of the field. Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton present narratives of distinguished and legitimate Heirs Apparent. Marco Rubio presents a winning Horatio Alger style rags-to-riches story. … Bernie Sanders is presenting himself as Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. … Ted Cruz weaves us a Lion Tamer narrative, complete with whip, starter pistol, chair and a penchant for sticking his head between the jaws of the Great Beasts.
All of these represent strong, classic, narratives. …
The 2016 nomination contest is not quite Game Over yet. What are the implications for the March primaries?
Read the full column here.
Ralph Benko, internationally published weekly columnist, co-author of The 21st Century Gold Standard, lead co-editor of the Gerald Malsbary translation from Latin to English of Copernicus’s Essay on Money, is American Principles Project’s Senior Advisor, Economics.
