What Happened to Ross Perot?

There was a man named Ross Perot. Remember him? He was very much like Mr. Donald Trump.  He was a  business man. He was a billionaire. Both of them ran for President. What was Perot’s attractiveness? Perot gave expression to the fear and anxiety of the middle class of his time.
In his book titled, They Only Look Dead,  E.J. Dionne Jr. (1996) called those attracted to Ross Perot the “Anxious Middle”. In a very fine chapter about the Politics of the Anxious Middle,  Mr. Dionne wrote, (p.67)

The Anxious Middle set the terms for the 1992 and 1994 elections. It destroyed a Republican presidential coalition that seemed invulnerable only a few years earlier. It made Ross Perot possible, ended George (H.W) Bush’s political career, sent Bill Clinton to the White House – and rebuked Clinton and helped make Newt Gingrich one of the central figures of American politics. Perot spoke instinctively of the American Middle. Bush never understood it. Clinton saw it coming long before most politicians, shaped his campaign to respond to its concerns – and then confronted its ire after only two years in office. Gingrich sought his own radical language to speak to its anxieties

(p. 72) Almost as important as Clinton’s candidacy, of course, was Ross Perot’s, and his rise proved to be an essential component of Clinton’s victory.  In the spring of 1992, as discontent against Bush was growing, Perot’s sudden availability as a candidate shook loose millions of previously Republican voters.  Before he dropped out of the contest, Perot had risen to first in the polls and had driven Bush down to about a third of the potential vote.  In his withdrawal statement in July – in the midst of the Democratic National Convention – Perot gave Clinton a large boost when he explained that his candidacy might no longer be needed , “now that the Democratic Party has revitalized itself.”  Clinton soared in the polls.

Can we call the politics of Mr. Trump an appeal to the feelings of the Angry Middle?  His confrontational style, his harsh criticisms, his stand against media and news reporters, his comments to Megan Kelly at the debate, and his repeated statements of anger and frustration place him as their spokesperson.  Many of his supporters praise his fearless engagement with and rebuttal of the news reporters.  They like when he gives simple answers to, for instance, the immigration problem.  They admire that he is willing to say to anyone who disagrees with him, “you’re Fired.”

But as Mr. Dionne highlights, Ross Perot voluntarily left the race and abandoned his supporters.  He threw his support to Clinton.  He said that his candidacy was no longer needed now that the Democratic party was revived.  Was that it?  Did Perot play the American voters for fools?  Did he care about the voter’s or only about the revitalization of the Democrats?  Was he really just a rich old man who hated Bush and would do whatever he could to insure that Clinton won?  However you might feel about that analysis, the fact remains that Perot’s candidacy was phony and he never really cared about the “Anxious Middle.”  He cared about himself, the Clinton’s and the Democrat Party.

The parallels between Trump and Perot are startling.  Trump’s campaign is to feared because like Perot’s, Trump’s billionaire financing, his bitter anger at the press and media, and his threats of reprisal against those with whom he disagrees are enjoying the same kind of support that sent Perot to number one.  Plus, there is already talk among people that if Trump is not on the ballot, millions of voters will opt to stay home on Election Day.  Such an action of silent protest will throw the election to Mrs. Clinton and the voter’s will have been played twice the fool.