My friend Cody said something that disturbed me deeply because I think he spoke for many people who have become disaffected from politics, especially at the federal level. He said: “I think we would be hard pressed to find any presidential candidate who would qualify on a moral sense. It doesn’t seem to be a quality of high political positions.”
I can understand how he might think that. Public service as an elected official, especially at the federal level, is prone to corruption more than any other field I can think of, at least at the moment. Campaigns have become very expensive and candidates can feel obligated too the wishes of major donors. Constituents and potential winners of federal contracts want favors and are willing to pay for them. Not bribery exactly, more a case of buyer and seller reaching a mutually satisfactory deal. Lavish parties, receptions, fundraisers, and opportunities for sexual adventures are part of the mix. The temptations are many.
The Trump years have demonstrated that it’s possible for felonious crimes and new heights of corruption to be practiced with no real consequences, even after conviction if done boldly, blatantly, in the public eye and on the public record. Of course it helps if the Supreme Court provides cover for office holders and themselves, which they have done with equal boldness and contempt for democratic virtues. The news is filled with stories of more petty offenders in Congress and state houses. They keep getting re-elected and the voting public doesn’t seem to care. Is Cody right? Moral standards for public office are so low that there is no difference between any of them?
I think not. It’s been many decades since I had any involvement in the political arena, but when I did I encountered elected officials, in different places on the political spectrum, who knew how to play hardball but with integrity, believing that they were acting for the good of the nation and their constituents. The sleazy characters stood out as bottom feeding opportunists, and everyone knew who they were.
There is reason for today’s public to have a low regard for members of Congress and presidents. The last twelve years have been nonstop Trump and the MAGA far right accusing everyone else of the unethical crimes of which they themselves are guilty. I believe most of the current officials in high office are trying to do what they think is right for the nation and its people. A continuous barrage of big lie propaganda painting everyone with the same immoral slime has convinced a large portion of the voting public that all politicians are alike.
My own member of Congress, Rep. Rob Whitman (VA, 1), is an example of someone doing what he thinks is right and good On big issues he’s a far right conservative voting in lockstep with the MAGA crowd. On the other hand, he’s dedicated to legislation important to the district no matter what right/left label is stuck on it. I will never vote for him. I think he is very wrong on major issues, but I also think he is a person of political integrity, as are many others in the House and Senate. As for presidents and presidential candidates, Biden, Harris and the entire cabinet team have been clear examples of what political integrity looks like. It saddens me deeply that if enough voters agree with Cody, there is no point in holding elected officials accountable for their ethical and moral words and deeds because that’s just he way they are. If Trump and Trumpism become normalized it will be a huge nail in the coffin of democracy.
Given the choice of a notably ethical candidate and one whose entire life is a case study in unethical, immoral word and deeds, I can see only one way of voting this fall.