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John McCain: The Heroic End of Darth Vader · by Rafi Kam
It’s always Star Wars, isn’t it?
We frame everything in Star Wars terms. And it’s usually all about Darth Vader. As an ultimate representative of evil, power, ruthlessness, Lord Vader is burned into our brains. And so we’ve all seen images of our favorite villains done up as Vader: George Steinbrenner, George Bush and especially Dick Cheney who famously referred to himself as the Darth Vader of his administration. Some Star Wars nerds may see Cheney more akin to the Emperor to Dubya’s Vader but lets not nitpick.
In the Democratic primaries this year, we suddenly realized we had the other half of what these Star Wars spoofs had been missing. Namely, a hero. In the real world Darth Vaders are a dime a dozen but where do you find a Luke Skywalker substitute? Some golden-boy outsider who emerges from nowhere, studies the Force and brings “a new hope” against the empire.
And so Empire Strikes Barack pit our young jedi knight against a new fitting Vader – Hillary Clinton this time. And that’s how it’s gone since… We all know that last night the Rebels finally beat the Empire. And if you couldn’t tell by the news coverage from cities all around the world, people are partying like the Death Star has just blown up. Cue the dancing Ewoks!
But before all the fireworks could start we needed one piece of redemption to go down. There was long ago a powerful Jedi who some thought might be the one to stop the corruption of the darkside. Something special there was in this one, yes. He was prone to follow his own volition even though it would get him in trouble sometimes but there was a power and goodness in him as well.
There is the unappreciated idea of Darth Vader as hero. The one whose loss leads him to pursue the power of the dark side. Think back to McCain’s primary loss in 2000 to the take-no-prisoners Bush campaign. And then how his own ambition drove him further to the right, aligning with the dark forces he was supposed to be up against, suddenly changing some five years back to please the conservative base so that he could have a shot in 2008.
Is the tragedy of Anakin Skywalker also the tragedy of John McCain? Last night in McCain’s concession speech, we saw the old man unmasked as he moved beyond the lure of vengeance and lifted himself above the booing crowd. Another Star Wars parallel… the chanting Joe Sixpack as hissing Emperor Palpatine in full “kill him!” mode. It was basically the Return of the Jedi conclusion playing out before us.
And there finally unmasked was the dignity of a human doing the right thing, acting with compassion and the greater good in mind. But this still being the internet, and me still being of the Star Wars generation, it all looked something like this to me.
Update: I told you this stuff is all elastic. Now Harry Allen has imagined a 2012 Republican primary where Palin plays Vader to McCain’s Obi-Wan. I think there’s zero chance of that happening (McCain won’t be running again and I’m doubtful about a Palin run as well) but I love that the Star Wars metaphor continues to shapeshift.
You should have little respect for John Mccain, you would be pissed if people put Obama’s face on pictures associated with pure evil like Darth Vader. Earn your respect as a journalist, unless respect is something you don’t desire.
— John Wayne Nov 5, 05:15 PM
^^ Weird, I didn’t realize there were many McCain supporters who spoke English as a second language.
— David Nov 5, 05:23 PM
Can you read, John Wayne? Vader is like Buddha.. He has many incarnations showing different qualities… he’s not a purely evil figure. He’s also a tragic hero.
I said that in McCain’s concession speech he has become the heroic Vader that the Star Wars series ends with, doing some good and redeeming himself after his fall.
“You should have little respect for John Mccain”
Perfect. I do.
“you would be pissed if people put Obama’s face on…”
You apparently don’t understand what the internet is for.
“Earn your respect as a journalist”
Please, lets not resort to slurs.
— rafi Nov 5, 05:41 PM
I think John Wayne skipped the whole reading part and just saw the picture, which by the way is awesome.
Rafi – way to lay the smack down on John Wayne.
Oh, great posting too. I got that same sense watching his speech last night.
— Jay Solis Nov 5, 07:40 PM
brilliant raf, as always.
but did you see that bitch palin? sideways mean mugging the whole speech. i see her as one of them wack ass commanders on the death star who mop the floors.
— Small Eyez Nov 5, 11:26 PM
Great work. And just like that cathartic scene in Episode 6 when Vader is unmasked and shows concern for Luke, so did Mac last night. He’s concerned about fueling the inborn, inbred hate in his Sling Blade constituency.
— Jay B Nov 6, 12:26 AM
Funny, I’ve been following McCain for years and I saw the same man I’ve always seen.
— Jon Hanson Nov 6, 12:46 AM
Haha I didn’t even read the article and I liked it.
I won’t miss the prequels I bet they’re 2xcrazy.
— b-chilla Nov 6, 12:54 PM
That picture after the “dancing ewoks” line is priceless. Dope post!
— Sach Nov 6, 07:16 PM
As a Republican who was forced to vote for Obama, I think you’re totally wrong; you’re giving him both way too much credit and way too little. On the way too much side, how could you compare such a pathetic, bumbling candidate to Darth – this isn’t a guy with Nixonian dirty politics skills. All the negative shit was executed so poorly. Compare his crappy Ayers ads to the Willie Horton spot in 88. On the way too little, he didn’t really “pursue the power of the dark side,” he only did what any guy would do in his place – push the stupid character/racial subtext angle because there was no other way he’d win with Bush as unpopular as he was and the economy in the shape it was. He believed he’d make the better President, and he was willing to do what it took to be the President. But he wasn’t even willing to take it that far.
— Tray Nov 7, 04:05 AM
Very nice. Keep up the good work Rafi!
— The Ill Pirsona Nov 7, 04:51 PM