International Political Will

The bullies in politics don’t seem to have matured much from their days hanging classmates up by their jockeys and dumpster-dunking the honors students after school. Unfortunately, two classic bully politicians are now considered to be on John McCain’s short list for running mates.

The white-collar bullies may try to mask their real identities behind a shirt and tie, slicked-back hair and a clean shave, but their actions give them away. They are quick-tempered and arrogant. They feebly attempt to disguise their utter contempt for others with smirks and laughter, then look to the crowd for their approval, like the high-school quarterback that has just crossed the line by punching the mentally-retarded kid at lunchtime. They constantly interrupt and speak over their opponents, relying more on volume and intimidation to win their argument. They think debates are fights, and that a puffed chest is a good rebuttal to facts.

This personality was most readily apparent during Mitt Romney’s campaign. The wealthy son of a privileged family, Romney’s Ward Cleaver haircut and faked smile may have fooled some voters for a while, but it didn’t last. Romney thought he was entitled to win, and was willing to “take it outside” with anyone who challenged him.

In the GOP primary debates, Romney was the first to interrupt a fellow candidate’s rebuttal. He smirked for the camera, as if smiling could refute facts. He resorted to blatant personal attacks, questioning the character and not the politics of his colleagues. When he was cornered and had no answer, he tried to laugh it off, hoping his charm would woo the audience and they might forget the fatal flaw that had just been exposed.

Romney’s darker side came out in January when an AP reporter challenged him on a fact about his campaign, pointing out that Romney, despite his protestations otherwise, did have lobbyists on his campaign. Watching Romney’s 14-minute back-and-forth with the reporter, in full view of everyone else at the campaign stop, one might have mistaken Romney for a boxer at the weigh-in, not a candidate for the highest office in the land. Romney physically stepped toward the reporter, attempting to intimidate the journalist. His voice raised, the anger flushed his face, and at any minute you expected him to take off his jacket and roll up his sleeves.

Last Sunday, Tom Ridge put on a show during FOX News Sunday. In a dual-interview with Tom Daschle, Ridge repeatedly interrupted both Daschle and host Chris Wallace. The transcript doesn’t do the episode justice; listening to the exchange, the tone in Ridge’s voice, his arrogance, and his smug ignorance come through.

We all know the format on these shows: each person is given their allotted time, and interrupting only serves to demonstrate how little ability one possesses to communicate with others in the real world. If you can’t shut the fuck up for 30 seconds on television with millions of people watching, how can you listen to opinions and advice when discussing real matters of national interest on Capitol Hill or in the Oval Office?

McCain allegedly considers both Romney and Ridge among his short list of running mate candidates; he would do well to choose someone - anyone - else.

Part of being a leader is the ability to listen to others, to absorb differing opinions, and to enhance and encourage open communication. Stifling debate, discussion, or limiting information can only propagate ignorance. Hinting at even the perceived threat of violence in the face of opposition isn’t cool like it was when you were 15 years old. When you’re an adult, and your best comeback to facts that are disagreeable is to physically intimidate or vocally overpower your opponent, you might as well give the other guy a wedgie and take his lunch money.

But then again, American voters have been doling out taxes for years and only getting bent over by the military-industrial complex in return, with nothing to show but stagnant wages, no health insurance, and a rising cost of living.

Maybe I’d rather just be hung on the door by my jockeys.

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