Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

More likely, though, voters tend to support a candidate because they perceive the candidate's goals and values as those most similar to their own. In short, the voter relates to the candidate.

Following that logic, that means the majority of voters in Palestine share the views of Hamas. They relate to their ideals. It's one thing to believe that a different political party can bring positive change to a nation. It's quite another to electorally support extremists who make no secret of their intentions.

So what does Hamas stand for? What actions would they support and encourage? What have they told the people of Palestine that would lead the majority of the electorate to vote for them? To what agenda have the Palestinian people given a mandate?

Once again, it's quite simple. Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar promised 'change'. And when oppressed, depressed, and distressed -- as the Palestinian people often are -- 'some change' is better than 'no change' -- regardless of the attached consequences.  That's why attachments to extremism often blossom in areas of economic blight. That's why al Qaeda successfully recruits from the ghettos. They find people with nothing to lose and promise martyrdom 'Something' is better than 'nothing'.

Unfortunately, in this case, the 'something' promised entails a violent, hateful, and provocative plan of action.

Zahar has made no secret of his intentions. Instead, he has used them as selling points for election -- as promises in exchange for power.

To fully comprehend the message that the Palestinian electorate had to embrace in order to cast their votes for Zahar and company, let's imagine how the "Official Hamas Election Pamphlet" might have read...

(Note: All points and quotes below have, at one time or another, been expressed by Zahar or other leaders of Hamas.)

"Official Hamas Election Pamphlet"

VOTE FOR HAMAS. VOTE FOR CHANGE!

Are you tired of 'politics as usual'? Are you ready for some REAL change?

Then let's say 'Ta Ta' to Fatah.
Let's say 'No sir' to the party of Yasser!
Let's say 'Hell yes!' to Hamas!

If you vote for us, this is what you'll get...

AS YOUR LEADERS, a Hamas government will...

>> ...end "security cooperation with Israel, [cut] most trade links with the Jewish state and [refuse] to engage with the 'Christian-Zionist' US administration."

>> "... go away from Israel and move toward all possible linkages with our Arab and Islamic brothers,"

>> ...promise that "our group's year-old cease-fire with Israel [will] not last forever.

>> ...NOT change our ways. "Resistance is a legitimate right of the Palestinian people, and we will not abandon it. There is no contraction between resistance and entering the legislative council."

>> ... NOT "renounce the right to armed resistance [simply] to keep the money flowing from Europe and the United States."

>> ...NOT deal with  "President Bush [who] is introducing hysteria into the region."

The Bottom Line

"Cooperation [with Israel] on the security and economic fields was a disaster for the Palestinians." "Our economic status was destroyed by the linkage of our economy with Israel... as the 1993 Oslo accords and the 1994 Paris agreement  [gave] Israel economic advantages at the Palestinians' expense."

With Hamas at the helm, that ship will sail.

We offer solutions!

THE SOLUTION IS:  to detach ourselves from the abusive relationships with the lecherous leaders of the Christian-Zionist agenda -- of Israel and of the 'Crusading' Bush Administration.

THE SOLUTION IS: "to link [ourselves] economically with [our] Arab and Islamic neighbors."

VOTE FOR HAMAS and within the next five decades "I'm sure Israel will disappear as the Crusaders and other empires disappeared.... All of Palestine will become part of the Arab and Islamic land -- as the Koran promised."

HELL YES to HAMAS!!

(End of fictional pamphlet)

Again, these views were no secret. Apparently the electorate supports these views and the implied actions promised to fulfill them -- or at the very least they're not repulsed by them.

Either way, the results of this election are very foreboding for the region.