In the 2nd Congressional District race, Republican Bruce Poliquin has managed to avoid saying anything even remotely positive, characterizing his opponent as a left-wing extremist. Democrat Emily Cain has responded by portraying Poliquin as a puppet of Wall Street. But then, neither of them signed a pledge promising to play nice. Independent Blaine Richardson has campaigned as if he’d sworn an oath of irrelevance.
In general, politicians only embrace civility after they retire—and honesty not even then. Earlier this year, Democrat George Mitchell, once the fiercely partisan US Senate majority leader, told the Maine Legislature, “To the extent it’s possible, try to forego the personal insult, and concentrate on the issues. It’s better for you, and most importantly, it’s better for the people of Maine.”
Likewise, former GOP US Senator Olympia Snowe posts stuff like this on her website, even though she’s supporting the rigidly conservative Poliquin: “By sending new voices to Washington that will embrace the value of collaboration and consensus-building, we can change the trajectory of the status quo and ensure that [the] current political environment doesn’t become the permanent culture.”
Lofty ideals are easy to embrace when you’re not running for anything.
Too bad all politicians don’t sign a pledge modeled on the mantra of former Republican congressional candidate John Frary, who said, “My concept of civility is one in which truth is not muted and stifled by
politeness.”
No need for courtesy when emailing me ataldiamon@herniahill.net.
