Sixth in a Series

CIVILITY and the Road Less Traveled sixth in a series Rules of Engagement n May 22, 1856, Congressman until 1812 that Adams began a correspon- Negotiating civility Preston Brooks of South Carolina dence with Jefferson that lasted until their in the political Oattacked Massachusetts Senator deaths in 1826. Charles Sumner on the floor of the United Former Republican senator Alan process States Senate. Brooks beat Sumner with a Simpson was known for being partisan cane until he was unconscious after taking with a sharp tongue. In a recent interview offense at Sumner’s speech that personally with Newsweek, Simpson opined that the CARL HAWKINSON criticized another senator. loss of civility in the Senate has occurred As a candidate and later as president, because “No one forgives anyone for Abraham Lincoln was subjected to con- anything anymore. People get angry just stant incivility and personal attacks by for disagreeing with them.” Evan Bayh, his opponents—he was called everything Democratic senator from Indiana since from a despot, liar, thief, and braggart to 1999, announced his retirement recently, a buffoon, monster, swindler, tyrant, fiend, lamenting the loss of civility in the Senate and butcher as the country anticipated and modern politics. civil war. The aphorism “Politics ain’t beanbag” Two of our most revered Founding was coined by Finley Peter Dunne, a Fathers were most uncivil toward each nineteenth-century Chicago author, and other for much of their political careers. President Obama acknowledged that real- John Adams and Thomas Jefferson ity when he appeared on The View in July regained their mutual civility only after and said, “Politics is a contact sport.” their political careers had long ended. Clearly incivility in American politics Adams and Jefferson, The Tumultuous is not new. Our politics has been uncivil Election of 1800, by John Ferling (2004), from our nation’s beginning. Voters blame documents the rough politics between politicians, and politicians blame each Adam’s Federalists and Jefferson’s Repub- other for the incivility in politics. The licans. When Jefferson lost the presidency responsibility for incivility in politics is to Adams in 1796 and by the law of the ours, as an entire country. As voters we day became vice-president, he left the Capitol. When Adams lost to Jefferson Carl Hawkinson was a Republican candidate and in 1800, he left Washington rather than officeholder serving in the Illinois legislature for twenty years. He is a member of the Galesburg (Illinois) Cov- attend Jefferson’s inauguration. It wasn’t enant Church. October 2010 | 21 want our views on important issues tion. Often a member would make with a Democrat colleague. Yet some to prevail, and we sometimes value a personal contact and explain his of my fellow Republicans were critical success more than we value political dilemma before taking partisan action. of my friendship with the Democrat civility. I found that such personal civility usu- and wondered whether I might reveal A poll conducted this year by ally eased potential conflict even when party information. Some Democrats Allegheny College found that 95 we opposed each other during election felt that the Democrat should not percent of Americans believe civility campaigns. share an apartment with a Republi- in politics is important for a healthy In my years in Illinois politics can. As partisanship increases, civility democracy. My parents used to say I observed and experienced both between Republicans and Democrats that you don’t have to like somebody Republican and Democrat civility. I decreases. but you must at least be civil toward also observed friendship across the Politicians are elected by their fel- them. I have always thought of civil- aisle. In the Illinois Senate, I had the low citizens. I believe they reflect the ity as something short of kindness. opportunity to serve with and observe rest of us. What we want can be in “Civility is an expression of a funda- then state senator Barack direct conflict with what mental understanding and respect for Obama, and I found “Our political life our friends, neighbors, the laws, rules, and norms that guide him to be smart, com- and fellow citizens want. its citizens in understanding what is mitted, ambitious, and is a reflection of Issues such as war and acceptable and unacceptable behav- partisan. I experienced peace, abortion, family, ior,” wrote psychologist Jim Taylor in his willingness to be who we are, no education, environment, an article titled “Politics: Is Civility bipartisan when it would public health, free mar- Dead?” Civility is the decency that advance an important matter how unat- kets, unionization, guns, we are to accord everybody all of the issue. While we did privacy, Social Security, time. Why then is there so much inci- not socialize together, I tractive we may Medicare, and taxes vility in our political life? experienced his friend- both unite and divide us ship and found him to find the image as a nation. To achieve Politicians desire to serve be unfailingly civil in looking back at us.” our goals on any of these the public his interaction with his issues, we have to elect In my experience, most people go colleagues. I have observed similar public officials who agree with us into politics because they desire the personal civility in the personal lives as a majority. We want our views to public good, and they know that in of other Republicans and Democrats prevail, and the more we are divided order to serve the public, they must who have moved onto the national as an electorate over these important work across the aisle in order to political stage. issues, the more challenging it is for accomplish their goals. It is natural In their personal lives, politicians elected officials to govern. and often politically advantageous are as likely to act civilly as any other Last April Newsweek writer Steve for local Republicans and Democrats group in society. They are friendly, Tuttle described one citizen’s decision to work together on local issues and courteous and, believe it or not, politi- to organize “a successful [political] economic development. During my cians care for each other. In my expe- movement based on civility instead of legislative years in Springfield, Illinois, rience even political adversaries were combat.” Reacting against the popu- I was part of a group of six legisla- civil and often friendly to each other list Tea Party movement, Annabel tors who worked on local matters for at campaign events. Incivility was Park organized hundreds of Coffee many years in a bipartisan manner. We rare, despite the tension of a campaign Party meetings, with the intention of developed mutual respect and lasting and the pressure to win. seeking a civil discussion of national friendships. issues. “But from the moment folks There was an inevitable tension, The polarizing effect of culture in the crowd stood up to speak their though, between our civility and our wars minds,” Tuttle wrote about one partisan politics. Party leaders would So why do good and civil public meeting in Washington, D.C., “Park try to get one member of the group servants appear to lose some of their knew these people had not come to to oppose another member through civility in the public political arena? sip cappuccinos and set an example endorsements and television com- I have observed that in political life, of civility for an overheated nation. mercials. But our friendships made civility can be compartmentalized. They were angry. They hated the Tea us less likely to participate in attack While in Springfield, I shared an Party, and the Republican Party. They ads against each other. We were more apartment with several of my Repub- wanted to get even.” One participant likely to try to correct false informa- lican colleagues and, for a period, said, “I like the civility idea, but I hate 22 | The Covenant Companion the Tea Party people.” dates and parties with whom they gen- defeated by Gowdy in the June 22 Even when civility is the ostensible erally agree on the issues they believe runoff primary. goal, voters themselves struggle to to be important. In February editor of As citizens we can improve the embody it. Newsweek Jon Meacham wrote, “Our civility of our politics through our political life is a reflection of who we voting and support for candidates. Elections are necessary to are, no matter how unattractive we We can investigate the truth of can- democracy may find the image looking back at didates’ positions and records rather While I value bipartisan civility us.” Meacham continued, “I have been than accepting the truthfulness of in political life, I understand that struck of late by the number of people thirty-second attack ads. Both parties political conflict is important. Elec- I know who believe that things used to stretch the truth to attack opposing tions matter. In my twenty years in be better, that there was a time when candidates. Voters can take the time the Illinois legislature, I served in the lawmakers drank together and agreed to learn the truth about the candi- minority and in the majority for ten to do what was best for the country. dates. We can also reject anger as a years each, and I understand well how Perhaps, but if things got done in the driving political force in a media age much more can be achieved when past, then why do we face so many that promotes political anger. We can your party is in control. perennial problems?” He proceeded demand civility of our candidates, The business of getting elected can to note that much of this nostalgia for and we can behave civilly at town hall quickly devolve into incivility.

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