I’m angry about what I’ve been hearing from our political leaders.
When Republicans gathered for their midterm convention, I hoped they would tell us what they were going to do for the country. Instead, I heard Democrats described as “communists” and “anarchists,” with warnings about turning America into a “socialist hellscape.”
More and more, people say anything they want about an opponent, no matter what damage it does to that person or our country.
But Democrats are also going too far. It is well known that I’m not a fan of Donald Trump. But the hateful language Democrats use toward him and their Republican colleagues is equally unacceptable.
I’ve run in a lot of elections. I always wanted to win, but I also understood there were limits to what I should say or do to achieve my goals. As I got older and matured, those limits became clearer.
If you can’t win with some degree of decency, is it really worth winning?
When we debate issues and policies today, there seem to be no boundaries. More and more, people say anything they want about an opponent, no matter what damage it does to that person or our country.
Why do politicians do this? Because they believe it motivates us voters. They want us stirred up, angry and hateful toward the other side.
No wonder our country is so polarized.
Someone suggested to me recently that Americans have adopted politics as their religion. If that’s so, we’ve apparently forgotten what religion teaches. What happened to “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”?
Over the years, plenty of nastiness has been on display in American politics. But we’ve also seen people handle difficult moments with class. Richard Nixon pledged his support to John F. Kennedy after the close 1960 presidential election. I’ve talked to Al Gore about what it was like to concede to George W. Bush after the prolonged standoff in 2000. He told me he knew it was time to move on for the good of the country.
I also remember a striking moment during the 2008 presidential campaign. When a woman at a Republican campaign event said she couldn’t trust Barack Obama, Sen. John McCain took back the microphone and called him a “decent family man.” His full statement: “No, ma’am, he’s a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that’s what this campaign is all about.”
That was pure class. In a heated campaign, McCain stood up to one of his own supporters to defend his opponent.
We ought to be having strong debates about how families put food on the table, keep up with rising costs and help their children succeed. We should be talking about the gap between the rich and poor, the racism that continues in our country and the need to respect women.
Instead, we get juvenile name-calling, vicious attacks and appeals to hatred, all designed to motivate the base to defeat the enemy. That’s disgraceful.
But let me ask: When you hear this language, do you cheer like you’re rooting for your football team? Or do you turn the channel because you’ve had enough?
The question for voters is: Are we going to take the bait? If we reward this divisive rhetoric, we’re going to get more of it.
The question for voters is: Are we going to take the bait?
If we reward this divisive rhetoric, we’re going to get more of it. Collectively, we need to think about people who hear these accusations and become frightened about their country. We don’t want those people taking matters into their own hands.
Throughout our institutions, leaders need to step up. We need business leaders who care about more than making money. We need media leaders who refuse to play only to their base. We need leaders in health and medicine to prioritize the care they provide.
Maybe you’re one of those leaders. And even if you’re not a big-time leader, you’re a leader to somebody.
Americans need to not be afraid to stand up and push back against things that are clearly wrong — even if that means there’s a chance someone won’t like them or won’t vote for them because of it.
We have to decide what we’re going to do about the future of our politics and country.
Voters set the tone. Do something where you are and where you live to bring peace, unity and progress to our country.
The post I’m angry with leaders on both sides. The toxic rhetoric has to stop. appeared first on MS NOW.
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