The Marketing of Nikki Haley

I used to be a "political junkie," fervently live-posting Presidential debates and following the daily developments of each campaign season with the enthusiasm with which some people follow sports playoffs. That was more than a few years ago. The change in my outlook was gradual, but really solidified over the past few years. In my mind, the Trump presidency was a Hail Mary for saving the United States in which I grew up, and the failed promise of his miracle ascendancy was a splash of ice cold water on my already waning enthusiasm for politics. That let-down was followed by an (apparently, allegedly) stolen election which installed as President a senile shell of a man, guilty of breathtakingly brazen corruption and patriarch of a stomach-turningly depraved family. It was deemed treasonous to question election results which seemed to indicate that Biden was the most popular President in American history, though he could scarcely gather enough warm-blooded supporters to fill a high school gymnasium. 

I understand now that politics is as fake as wresting or "reality" TV, but with a much more sinister purpose, so I try to tune out the whole perverse display as much as possible. However, this is an election year and it's hard to avoid completely, especially since it's apparent that the donor class have chosen South Carolina's own Nikki Haley as their preferred future POTUS. Among Haley's many deep-pocket donors is Charles Koch, financier of the Americans for Prosperity PAC. In recent weeks, I have been getting slick ads on quality card stock in my mailbox a few times a week from AFP touting of Nikki Haley for President. The ads feature vague language about a "positive vision for America," or claim that unlike the embattled Trump, Haley can beat Biden in a national election! Neighborhoods in my area are being canvassed by door-knocking Haley advocates who are almost certainly paid by the same PAC. 

ActionForHaley.com fliers supplied by the AFP website.

The most preposterous claim I've seen so far, undoubtedly cooked up by some overpaid, tone-deaf campaign consultant, is that "Haley will bring South Carolina values to Washington!" What do these big-money consultants think constitute "South Carolina values?" Haley has a Southern accent and is a Clemson Tigers fan, so she checks a few superficial boxes of Southern traits. But what about real values? How about adherence to an earnest, personal, lived Christian faith? I recently stumbled upon an article from Haley's time as UN Ambassador where she was praying in a Sikh temple while touring India. A supposed Christian convert, Haley should know that believers must not participate in worship of false gods, even for the sake of diplomacy.​

Southerners are known for a love of tradition, but Haley is best known for choosing to defame and destroy Southern heritage in service of her personal career ambitions. Southerners are skeptical of authority and place great value on local community and self-reliance, which is why we are among the groups most vehemently opposed to globalism and communism. Haley is the darling of globalists and is their biggest cheerleader. 

It's painfully obvious that Haley has minimal grass roots support. Most of her anemic social media engagement is mocking replies to her awkward attempts to pander and project an image. It's also clear that Haley, whose most remarkable trait is her intense eagerness to advocate whatever she believes will please her paymasters, is not even a particularly adept politician. (Chris Christie was recenly caught on hot mic stating what many believe, that Haley is "gonna get smoked... She's not up to this.") If not for the fact that she is telegenic, checks important demographic boxes, and is willing to be politically malleable as expediency demands, she would never have progressed beyond being mayor of Bamberg.

​I'm not sure how much her lack of talent or integrity matters at this point in our nation's decline. If there's still enough semblance of a country left by next November that we engage in the pretense of an election, we may have this empty suit, wine-mom version of Hillary Clinton foisted upon us by the self-appointed masters of the universe. I've detached from politics enough that it won't rattle me too much. The real Master of the Universe is on his heavenly throne. If it happens, I'll turn my attention to smaller and better things while the USSA collapses on her watch.