The Penguin is Electable

When Batman Returns came out, I was too young for politics. Without giving away my age, let's say the first president I remember is President Bill Clinton. Nonetheless, looking at The Penguin's mannerisms and demeanor in the film, I could not help but think to myself - this guy is not electable! He bites a man's nose, looks like an egg, eating raw fish, and makes awful sexual remarks. In my older years, I realized, The Penguin is sadly quite electable. Case in point - look at Donald Trump.

Early on in 2016, many voters on both sides were unsure of Donald Trump. Remember, this is the candidate who says, 'I grab them by the pussy, I don't even wait.' The more traditional Republicans did not care for his rhetoric at all. They see him as coarse, rough around the edges, and all-around uncouth. His policies, on the other hand, were hardly a concern. Why bring this up, you ask? Recall the talks of Penguin's 'french flipper trick' or the way he likes to pin the button on the breast of a possible young female voter. Grant, you, neither of these are of not of the same public reception as Trump's quote. Nonetheless, we see with Trump's results, he won a swath of Republican women voters (89%), white women voters (53%), and white women without college degrees (61%). Plus, married women, white women with college degrees, and Independent women, he loses a margin by less than ten. To this day, many will say some of his rhetoric is awful for political expediency, yet the results say otherwise.

This brings us to The Penguin's remarks that Batman leaks. These remarks include The Penguin referring to Gotham voters as 'pin-heads.' Another controversial quote includes The Penguin claiming to have played the city like a 'harp from hell.' Pin-heads' is hardly that offensive of a term, even among teenagers. Even the most clean-cut, prudish conservative has said or heard much worse. Playing the city like a harp from hell is quite an original phrase, wholly invented by Mr. Cobblepot. What does it even mean though? It may fell on deaf ears to some voters, but essentially he's saying he has the voting base hoodwinked. Keep in mind in politics, he has the chance to contextualize what he means in later interviews and speeches. If he was granted this opportunity and can bs himself enough, then this is hardly a roadblock. Again, go back to Trump's rhetoric during 2016, who in the end managed to still win. Maybe in 1992, such rhetoric may be deemed negative and politically incorrect. In the 21st century of politics, both sides would accuse the victim of said remarks such as pin-head as too sensitive.

Batman Returns itself has an extremely incoherent plot, with little to no clear details on what everyone wants, save for Max Schreck. Never in The Penguin's original plan does he desire political office. Schreck manipulates Oswald Cobblepot into this scenario, all for his power plant the incumbent mayor denies. There is one huge problem with Max Schreck's plan, which includes a recall election.

Recalls do exist, especially for mayors. However, in the 200 years plus history of the United States, with so many localities, only 26 mayors were ever successfully recalled. Hence, a recall election or referendum is no simple maneuver. If Oswald Cobblepot truly wants to win, he needs to disengage from Max Schreck and possibly wait for an actual election year. Keep in mind, the film takes place in late December. Hence, November, or election season is over. Come December, after election season, many voters do not want to be reminded of politics. They are ready for Christmas, spending time with their family, and looking forward to the new year! Now, Oswald Cobblepot can throw his hat into the ring for the next election. We see this already with U.S. Presidental politics. The moment President Obama won in 2012, many talking heads began throwing around names for 2016. Again, not the norm in 1992 but today's political climate - not unheard of at all.

The best chance Oswald Cobblepot has is running as the 'law and order' candidate. Trump runs as the 'law and order candidate' in 2016. Nixon coins this slogan in his 1968 presidential election. Law and order show you support the police, the status quo, are tough on crime, and can be read in other coded ways to other voters. Max Schreck recommends The Penguin send his Red Triangle Circus Gang to create havoc, insinuating that the incumbent mayor cannot uphold law and order. No doubt, a good idea but there are two other points Oswald Cobblepot can hammer on.

One being he saved the mayor's baby. He ought to ask the voters if the mayor cannot protect his child, can he protect the citizens of Gotham? A mayor should have plenty of security, if criminals can slip through the mayor's safeguards, then average citizens have it even worse with their children. Second, is the fact that the mayor condones a vigilante. Not only that, but the mayor allows the police commissioner to call upon this vigilante. Citizens of Gotham do not know who this Batman is, he does not show his face, and who does he truly answer to? Gotham did not elect him nor appoint him.

Finally, Oswald can use to his benefit the notion is he an outsider. Again, this is what won Trump over Hillary to many voters. Trump has no political experience or history, unlike former Senator, former Secretary of State, and former First Lady Clinton. This is what also helped Jimmy Carter win in 1976, after the blowout of Watergate and the Pentagon Papers. Carter was no D.C. insider, but a simple no-name farmer from Georgia that many Americans did not know of. Plus, experience does not always equal good results. George H.W. Bush has a tremendous resume as a Vice-President, a C.I.A. director, Chair of the RNC, an ambassador to the United Nations, and a two-term congressman of the U.S. House of Representatives. Yet, he was a one-term president that no one talks of. Yet, Abraham Lincoln was a one-term congressman of U.S. House of Representatives, got two presidental terms, and to many is the best president of the United States.

By no means does this ensure a victory for Mayor Oswald Cobblepot. However, if I were his campaign advisor this is what I would feed him. More and more, we see rather unruly people come to the office all over the world, not just Trump. You can find strong men, Holocaust deniers, religious zealots, and more in other countries! Hence, why would Oswald Cobblepot be any different?