When I was in college, I spent one summer as an intern in Washington, DC working for Congressman Martin Sabo. I loved being on Capitol Hill. I admired the dedication of all the people I worked with and I even contemplated running for office one day.
Congressman Sabo, to me, was the definition of a “public servant.” He did not run for office for personal glory, he did it because he believed in the ability of government to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Sabo was a liberal, but he worked across the aisle and always treated his colleagues, and our political institutions, with respect.
In the wake of the horror that took place in Tucson earlier this month, I couldn’t help but think how times have changed in Congress. The collegial tone that I witnessed seems to have disappeared. Even the words “Congress,” “politician,” and “government” have taken on negative undertones in our country.
In the aftermath of the Tucson shootings, we have an obligation to reflect on the state of our Union. Gun control, mental health care, and, yes, the tenor of our national dialogue all deserve examination. But I also hope the Tucson shootings can signal an official end to what has become one of our favorite pastimes as Americans: denigrating and disrespecting our government leaders.
The term “public service” used to mean something special. People who dedicated themselves to serving in office were afforded a certain level of respect by political foes and allies alike. Today it seems the more “patriotic” a person claims to be, the more they will espouse that the best government is “no government at all.”
Ironically, politicians themselves have become some of the harshest critics of their own profession. Incumbents seek political cover by distancing themselves from their peers, or from “government” in general. Challengers decry our political system even as they work feverishly to join the ranks of those they claim to detest.
The vilification of government by pundits and politicians can’t help but impact the way the general public views government. This has led to a too lenient atmosphere when it comes to rhetoric and campaign tactics.
In the past “targeting” candidates in crosshairs would have been political suicide. Today it makes you the leader of a movement. Not long ago, calling a sitting president the “worst president in history” in a campaign ad would have been lambasted as unpatriotic. This past November Arizona voters rewarded Ben Quayle for that ad by electing him to Congress (where he pledged to “knock the hell out of the place!”)
To be clear, I don’t believe we can blame the acts of a deranged individual on Sarah Palin any more than we can blame the movie Taxi Driver for the attempt on Ronald Reagan’s life. But even without a direct link, can’t we still acknowledge we’ve gone too far. It’s time to stop using guns in campaign ads, putting “targets” on opponents, or holding “machine gun socials” as campaign fundraising events.
I remember seeing footage of a teenaged Bill Clinton shaking the hand of President Kennedy in the Rose Garden as part of a Boys Life event in 1963. Clinton spoke about how that meeting inspired him to think about a career in public service, and it planted a seed within him that he could be president one day.
Then I think about nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green arriving at that event in Tucson, so excited to meet her Representative, Gabrielle Giffords. Christina was also inspired by the idea of public service. Witnesses say at the time of the shooting she was standing behind Rep. Giffords with a huge smile on her face. She could very well have grown up to be a Congresswoman… or President. We’ll never know.
Calling for an end to the denigration of public service doesn’t mean we can’t criticize public officials or our government. It is our duty as Americans to hold our leaders accountable for their actions and their positions. But we don’t need to tear down or belittle the role of public service because we don’t like the views of the person holding office.
It’s time to restore the role of “public servant” to an honored place in our society. Maybe if we all expect the best from government, we will get the kind of governance that America still deserves.
This is spot on Brian. If we bash people for being community organizers, the only folks interested in service will be those hoping to serve themselves rather than others. The comparison you’ve made between Christina Taylor Green and a young Bill Clinton is painfully insightful.