I am not one who believes in psychoanalysis, syndromes and the idea that the roots of one’s faults and frailties are always found in someone else’s doings. To the contrary, I am one who strongly believes in the consequences of your own actions. After all, the notions of self reliance and individual responsibility are at the heart of the Republican mantra. However, given many of the Republican party’s fits and starts lately, it has got me thinking that the party needs some sort of self-help therapy. One contemporary refrain that many folks use nowadays to explain someone else’s emotionally incapacitated state is: “He or she is in a bad place.” I guess that means they are so upset and depressed they are incapable of normal social interaction for the time being while they search for the real source of their behavior. Most notably, in case you haven’t noticed, we have had two high profile, presidential candidates admit to extra marital affairs. While some shrug this off, this creates a real conundrum for the party. To bring us current with contemporary psychobabble the GOP is in “a real bad place.”
The Mark Sanford press conference may have been the coup de grace for the Republican party as we know it. Let’s face it, Mark Sanford will be the hammer that Republicans will be hit over the head with for some time to come. Especially when it comes to “family values.” There is nothing more that hurts the credibility of the party more than the hypocrisy involved with a character like Sanford. Liberal bloggers, Op-ed writers are already having a field day with Sanford. Sanford completes the press’ favorite narrative of “social conservatives as hypocrites.” And quite frankly, in Sanford’s case, they have a valid point. We have structured a party based upon family values, so each time a Sanford does what he did we inflict another wound upon ourselves and provide the media with a keg of dry powder to strike at a tenuous link in the party. Despite the injustices that come with making the exception the rule, it doesn’t matter. This is politics and the press is it’s purveyor. Frankly, those in favor of traditional marriage are better off putting their stock in President Obama who has said he is against gay marriage, or, as we are doing it here in Maine, putting it in the hands of the people.
At some juncture, we will have to self-evaluate and understand the damaging political effects of such hypocrisy in our elected officials. While one man does not a party make, Sanford’s single misadventure will have a lasting ripple effect across the GOP and every election in the next cycle where a conservative is on the ticket. I suspect as Maureen Dowd of the New York Times did this week – Sanford won’t be the last. We must consider the impact of more Sanford’s upon the part of the platform that many of us hold dear.
We as a party have long stood for family values – rightfully so. Consequently, you and I, and not our elected officials will have to deal with the fallout. Despite what you and I think, post-Sanford, Republicans will not want to speak about these issues because of their political radioactivity. Whats a conservative to do? I am not quite sure. However, instead of shrugging-it-off and dismissing all unethical behavior as a political reality, let’s take responsibility for OUR values even when our elected officials do not. Day-by-day more and more politicians seem incapable of the simple modesty, humility and honesty by which we conduct our everyday lives. In fact, confessions and conciliation doesn’t seem to come until the hand is found in the cookie jar.
As a good friend of mine likes to say, there was once a reason we bestowed the term “Honorable” upon our elected officials. Elective office was above any other honor a man or woman could seek and achieve. And while some behaviors are neither illegal, nor injurious there are many that are just plain dishonorable. Therefore as our elected officials seem more and more incapable of common honor, it becomes encumbant upon you and I to return the honor to office by demanding it at election time.
- Dean Scontras's blog
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We need to raise the bar. I find it disconcerting, to say the least, that where the bar ought to be is what I am referring to as raising it up to.
However, no matter how disconcerting it may be, it is what needs to be done. And the only way to successfully raise the bar is for the electorate to demand priciples and honor. And the only way for the electorate to demand principles and honor is through education and information, and through what I will refer to as comraderie.
Although I feel that we have our work cut out for us, that there is a malaise that has fallen like a thick cloud over the populace, I continue to experience a growing network of awakening people rubbing the sleep from their eyes.
I am hopeful.
It may take a herculean strnegth, but we can lift that bar, and raise it up, set it where it ought to be.
Cheers! ~Cynthia
I'm not much for psychoanalysis but perhaps the Republican party needs an "intervention". Perhaps American culture needs an "intervention".
I can't help but think that these people in leadership are some what a reflection of our society and culture in the US. How can we expect to raise up moral and excellent leadership if we expect so little from our youth? Our youth who are bombarded with false notions and relativity rather than absolute truth. I do hold out some hope and have come to expect excellent things from our youth. Perhaps if we expect excellance we will get it.
Joe & Harry- excellent comments. Couldn't agree more.
For my entire adult life, I have lived by a clearly defined set of core values. Those values are Honor, Courage, and Commitment. I was taught their meaning as a young sailor, and in turn, did my best to instill them in others later in life. Now retired from the Navy, I still live them day-to-day and I find I am unforgiving of those in positions of public trust who violate those core values, and violate my trust and faith. We must have virtuous men and women who serve in public office, no exceptions. We are in a crisis in our party and in our nation, and people of caliber, of strong moral standing and commitment to the Rule of Law and the Constitution of the United States must come forward to lead. Those that are lacking must step aside to allow those who can do the job to come forward. Mark Sanford hurts not only this party with each press conference where he reveals even more peccadilloes and dalliances, but he hurts the image of what he had previously been known to be, a strong virtuous politician. It does not matter what party a person is from to have some of the fallout affect them. Mark Sanford's affair is going to undermine the public trust in ANY politician, especially the longer he sits without resigning, and especially if he abused public funds to make it so. "Honorable" should not just be part of their title, but part of them.
There is no arguing with Dean's point. It is unfortunate that we in the Republican Party are held to a much higher standard than those other guys. For them, no infraction is worthy of censure.
If we conservatives don't go back to our core beliefs and act accordingly, we can expect to be pilloried by the media, criticised by the liberals and expected to step down from any positions of authority. It is liberals, it seems, that expect to be forgiven for any human shortcomings. For any time a conservative makes a mistake...lights out!
So if you can't walk the walk, as they say, don't talk the talk.