I have a theory.
Here's the salient fact: a 1993 survey found that by age 3, 95% of all American children had watched Sesame Street.
Flash forward 19 years. All those 1993-and-earlier kids who learned to read and count from PBS TV now can vote. As can their grateful parents.
On Oct. 3, 2012, Mitt Romney made headlines in the first presidential debate by attacking Big Bird. Romney vowed to fire the beloved yellow superstar. Mitt was laughing, but he wasn't joking. He doubled down by threatening to fire the debate moderator as well, the equally beloved Jim Lehrer. (And shamelessly bullied old Jim to boot! Almost as much fun as holding down the weird kid and cutting off his hair ... only [oops] this time the audience numbered in the tens of millions.)
The race for the presidency seems like a retelling of The Emperor's New Clothes, with both sides screaming, "He's naked!"
But I think that night many recognized Romney for the character he essentially is: the boss you hated. Full of himself. Scornful. Entitled. Superficial. An eager bulldozer facing a field of helpless saplings. "Who can I fire today" was his working motto, in a time of devastating unemployment. Out of touch. Unappreciative of what something as clearly useful as Sesame Street had done to educate decades of American children in their ABCs and 123s.
Romney added fuel to his self-immolation that same night by aggressively disrepecting Barack Obama, which meant in fact disrepecting the Presidency. That might play well with the numb nuts, but good citizens who belief in this country find it distasteful. If you're running for the office, show a little respect for the office.
More than 67 million Americans watched that first debate, making it one for the record books. And while a Gallup poll immediately following found that 72% of viewers thought Romney had won, the true winner was revealed on November 6 when Big BIrd came home to roost, safe and sound in the hearts and hands of clear-thinking US voters.