Hero-ing aid

Throughout US history, voters have frequently looked for heroes in their presidential candidates. McCain, moreover, isn8217;t just any old hero. His life story resonates with Americans8217; deepest fears and hopes about their own mortality.

.. First, there are heroes as models of success 8212; Michael Jordan, Meryl Streep, Steve Jobs8230;They don8217;t necessarily exhibit any commendable moral qualities or leadership ability8230; Second, there are heroes as effective moral-minded leaders. Generals like Washington and Dwight Eisenhower fit this mould. They are admired and respected for their leadership ability, but are not necessarily models 8230;Third, there are heroes as death-defying moral exemplars who risk their lives to save others or to adhere to a high moral standard. These would include the passengers of United Flight 938230;. Finally, there are heroes as death-defying world-historical leaders who physically risk themselves to save or advance a people or a country. These include Jesus, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King. These are the rarest, and most esteemed, of heroes. 8230;But, even if the perception of heroism was responsible for McCain8217;s post-convention bounce, it8217;s far from clear whether it will be enough to carry him across the finish line ahead of Obama. It is wrapped up with the kind of nationalism most dramatically inspired by a quasi-religious understanding of foreign policy as a struggle between good and evil.

From an article by John Judis in the 8216;New Republic8217;