Integrity is everything in politics – or at least it should be. After all, you’re in office only so long as voters trust you to do what’s best for them. But integrity too often gets lost in the scramble for power and money, whether it’s in the governor’s race in Colorado or the desire for dominance in Washington. When personal integrity loses to the lust for power, people’s trust in government and politicians crumbles into disgust and cynicism. This is bad for America.
Only five years ago, Democrats were at the heart of the nation’s political scandals. Today, given their virtually complete control in Washington, Republicans are in the limelight of sleaze. And it’s not confined to Washington. Colorado Republicans are frothing over their own power struggle.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Holtzman is under scrutiny for appearing in ads trashing Referendums C and D, using possibly suspect money. His primary opponent, Congressman Bob Beauprez, has accepted large campaign contributions from the disgraced PAC of fellow Congressman Tom DeLay, now under indictment in Texas on criminal conspiracy charges related to this very same PAC.
One has to wonder if getting voter recognition on these terms does much for your approval ratings. When integrity matters, as it always should, wouldn’t politicians be better off following the letter and spirit of campaign finance laws rather than skulking around the edges, hoping for an extra moment before the voters?
Money on another front is dogging Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. He is under investigation – though no charges have been filed – for insider trading. Frist put his assets into what he labels a “blind trust” in order to avoid conflicts of interest. Now, a blind trust means just that: You neither know what investments your trust holds nor what your trustee does with those investments. That gives you real freedom from conflicts of interest.
But Frist, apparently having learned nothing from Martha Stewart’s infamous insider-trading fiasco, told the trustee of his not-very-blind trust to sell his shares in Hospital Corp. of America, founded by his father and brother, just days before the company announced weak financial results. So Frist made a chunk of money on his shares shortly before other investors took a bath on theirs.
If you love your position of power, what on earth possesses you to risk it all to make a quick buck? Is it hubris or a belief that power produces invincibility? Whatever it is, squandering your integrity is not worth the cost.
Next, we have to wonder about two top Washington powermongers, presidential confidante Karl Rove and vice presidential adviser Lewis Libby, both under grand jury scrutiny for possibly “outing” CIA undercover agent Valerie Plame Wilson, a criminal offense. In a White House that publicly trumpets its moral virtues and values, what made it acceptable to even talk to the press about a secret agent, much less destroy her cover in a futile attempt to discredit her husband? Vengeance is not a sign of integrity; it is an abuse of power.
Contrast these sorry patrons of power with two other Republicans, Arizona Sen. John McCain and Colorado Congressman Joel Hefley. I may not always agree with their politics, but I know they act on what they believe is right and fair. Power and greed, honesty and ethics are not partisan matters. But when a political party becomes too powerful, its leaders may be tempted to think they are above the law and beyond the need for principled behavior. This is a tragedy for American government and politics.
What’s puzzling about all this is that it’s so much simpler to just be honest. Then you don’t have to spend your time explaining or defending yourself. There’s something about the arrogance of power that blinds perfectly intelligent people to the importance of just doing the right thing. When politicians reach that point, it’s time for voters to remind them that they are in power to serve the public interest, not their self-interest, and send them home.
Gail Schoettler is a former U.S. ambassador, Colorado lieutenant governor and treasurer, Democratic nominee for governor and Douglas County school board member.
