John McCain died on August 25th, 2018. The anniversary of his death resulted in many news outlets reviewing his career. Some lamented the passing of a United States Senator who was able to work across the aisle.
I knew the Senator. He was on the Senate oversight committee that held more hearings than I wanted, on what the Federal Communications Committee (FCC) was doing. I chaired the FCC during President George H.W. Bush’s administration.
Senator McCain was always straightforward in his conversations with me. I didn’t sense a hidden agenda. Most of our discussions betrayed his intense curiosity. Channels and devices that we now take for granted were in the early stages of change, and he was interested in what was taking place.
McCain was among the most principled elected officials I met. But he was not rigid. And while he could be impatient and dismissive, he valued unity. He was a true patriot who understood that prolonged division weakens a country.
I am often asked why so few elected Members of Congress show courage in the face of President Trump’s slashing personal attacks. Obviously the question is not asked by Trump lovers. Private conversations reveal that a fair number of Republicans who voted for Trump are resigned to take the bad with the good.
Most often the good is Trump’s nominations to the Supreme Court. It is often stated rhetorically as in: “Who do you think Hillary would have nominated?” Fair enough.
But what about the “bad”. Most say, quite pointedly, that they “don’t like the man.” Since it appears that Trump will once again be the nominee of the Republican Party, there will be a new weighing and balancing before ballots are cast on November 3, 2020. Will character weigh more heavily this time around?
In the meantime, do not expect many 21st Century versions of John McCain. Most persons who hold office, on both sides of the political divide, believe their Party is their only vehicle to hold office. And, they cannot imagine an alternative career that will give them status and benefits equal to what they now have. They are probably right.
Yet, I am even more convinced that most elected officials are cursed by short-termism—especially on environmental and fiscal policy. They are on the wrong side of history. Their legacy will not linger as John McCain’s has and will. Elected officials who yield to personal motive over public trust will quickly be forgotten.
Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al recently published Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books.
Reza Jafari says
Al, Well Done! This is another insightful and well articulated piece by a man who should represent us in the US Congress. He deeply cares about this community, he emphatically cares about our environment and he is genuinely concerned about US fiscal policies and national debt and trade policies. Thank you Al!
robert c. shafer says
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Far too much hero worship, Mr. Sikes —– like all famous men, McCain had feet of clay. He should have gone down to Senatorial defeat or even gone to jail for his complicity with the Keating Five S&L scandal. His arrogant grandstanding when he left his hospital bed and showed up to cast the deciding vote on Obamacare repeal was the last straw for me. This highly celebrated ego maniac lived on the glory of his POW past for all of his life in public service — his lack of sane judgement choosing Sarah Palin as a running mate made him into one of the all-time worst Presidential candidates in U.S. history.
Alan Boisvert says
“…..fair number of Republicans who voted for Trump are resigned to take the bad with the good”
Good? What good? We are well beyond accepting trumps so called “good” in the current and toxic environment. In normal times(not long ago) I would try to accept and understand both sides of a political argument whether it’s entitlements, segregation, infrastructure, etc. People say “can’t talk about politics”. That usually means one side cannot defend themselves so they use this scapegoat. That said, this is no longer about politics. We are well beyond politics. It’s about decency and respect and honor. I’m amazed at the weakness of the the 40%(trump supporters). Given all trump has done and said and they still support him. It says little for those 40% that they are willing to accept and ignore the near constant berating of woman, foreigners, world leaders, gold star families, non-whites, etc, etc. Not to mention weakening CAFE standards, weakening environmental regulation resulting in more dirty air and water. The list is long. If that were not enough now we have trumps plan to raid FEMA for his asinine wall while throwing very sick children out of the country, most likely to their death. Will the 40% please grow a pair, find your morals you lost in 2016 and stand up to this modern day Hitler. Thank you.