Voter Betrayal! by Tom Gow

www.freedomfirstsociety.org August 2010 Voter Betrayal! by Tom Gow [T]he two parties should be almost is widespread and deep enough, a were elected to the House of identical, so that the American “revolution” of sorts occurs, and the Representatives. Unfortunately, these people can “throw the rascals out” party controlling Congress changes. freshmen quickly discovered that at any election without leading to Such a “revolution” occurred in keeping on course was not as easy as any profound or extensive shifts 1994 with the election of the 104th they had imagined. in policy. Congress. But Establishment Insiders In fact, before they even got to — [Establishment Insider] were too clever for angry, uninformed Washington most had allowed Carroll Quigley voters, and they made sure that the themselves to be tied by Establishment Tragedy and Hope (1966) “revolution” was in form only. In “conservative” and internationalist 2010, history threatens to repeat itself, Newt Gingrich to a flawed and even Periodically, voters become angry so let’s see what we can learn from dangerous “Contract with America.” over too much government coming history. Moreover, when the new unschooled from Washington. Many then support congressmen arrived in Washington, congressional candidates who promise A Lesson From History they found themselves outgunned they will work to bring Washington In 1994, a number of naive, but well by the more experienced staff of under control. If voter discontent intentioned Republican candidates established veterans. Long hours and Wikimedia: Scrumshus Freedom First Society What’s Missing congressman is supposed to go back The reason voters are consistently to Washington and work to achieve the disappointed when they send a “good” best deal possible for his constituents representative to Washington to or for the nation. But there can be clean house is that they have naive no compromise between supporting expectations. They just don’t appreciate and opposing unconstitutional acts. the pressures their representative Any such compromise is, in fact, will encounter in Washington, and so a repudiation of the concept of a they don’t realize that a successful Constitution. representative must have the support Nevertheless, conservative con– — the counterbalancing pressure — gressmen often insist: “If we hadn’t of an informed electorate back home. voted for this flawed bill, which The best guide for sincere included some cuts in unconstitutional freshmen and for voters back home spending, the liberals would have is the Constitution. In fact, the best succeeded in passing a version with legislative agenda is a general one — even more unconstitutional spending.” simply conform government to the And so they protest when their votes Constitution. are rated poorly on report cards using All congressmen take an oath the Constitution as a strict standard: ajagendorf25 to uphold the Constitution. “Why penalize me for working to get Unfortunately, even conservative- the greatest cuts possible given the Revolution at polls only: In 1994, Re- sounding congressmen rarely come political situation?” they will object. publicans took control in Congress with equipped with a good understanding The votes for spending on foreign a mandate to trim government. But of the document or of fundamental aid — spending that is clearly Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich principles, and too often their oath unconstitutional — illustrate their deflected the revolution by promoting a means little in practice. argument. Occasionally, one party misleading “Contract With America.” So one serious pitfall facing well will manage to get a foreign aid intentioned rookie congressmen is measure before Congress that impossible schedules made it difficult their lack of understanding of the includes substantial cuts over to keep on top of critical pieces of Constitution. But there is another previous unconstitutional spending. legislation. Deals were hatched of related pitfall — the seductive trap of Representatives who wish to appear which they were unaware, and often compromise, heavily promoted by the fiscally responsible will often support they were stampeded into voting on leadership of both major parties. Before such measures, even though the federal legislation allegedly containing merely real change will occur in Washington, government has no authority to spend “minor” changes, only to discover more voters and congressmen must any money on foreign aid. They argue too late that substantial objectionable understand why it is wrong and deadly that if their halfway measure fails the features had been added. to compromise on principle. liberals will insist on more spending We can imagine what even the best- for foreign aid. intentioned representatives must have No Compromise on Principle! Our answer is that a congressman’s faced as they set out to battle entrenched Politics is often described as the art overriding responsibility is to adhere interests, bureaucracy, pressure from of compromise. If that is so, there is to his oath to uphold the Constitution, party leaders, and the agenda of the a big gap between “politician” and not to cut the best deal possible. new world order. Several freshmen “statesman.” Certainly everyone must Even a reduced foreign aid bill is privately echoed a common theme: compromise on many things in order to indefensible. “You just can’t fully appreciate the work as a team and live harmoniously Both the congressman and his pressure.” Unfortunately, experience with others. But what may be a virtue constituents need to understand that shows that most eventually bend to in one arena quickly becomes a vice political pragmatism, while promising this pressure and wake up one day to when vital principles are involved. small, short-term gains, can’t solve find themselves a part of the problem Too many congressmen buy in to the entrenched problem of exploding they went to Washington to correct. the dangerous fallacy that a “good” unconstitutional spending that is 2 sinking our nation. In fact, rampant impossible with an uninformed support, standing on principle was not political pragmatism makes a real electorate may be politically possible the kiss of death, even in the face of solution impossible. (Pragmatism is with an informed, moral electorate. strong Establishment opposition and objectively not pragmatic.) The American people and their opposition from the leadership of both Moreover, the pragmatic approach elected representatives simply need major political parties. is just plain wrong. Each congressman to eschew moral relativism and have The 1978 edition of The Almanac takes an oath to support and defend the confidence that doing the “right” thing of American Politics claimed that Constitution from all enemies foreign will ultimately be blessed. Fortunately, McDonald “is likely to be just as and domestic. He does not take an oath informed voters will support a controversial in 1978 as he has been to negotiate the least violence to the congressman who tenaciously defends in the past,” and that “his seat must Constitution. What his oath demands, the Constitution. be considered in perpetual jeopardy.” and what the American people so But that year McDonald was re- sorely need, is for their congressman The Example of Larry McDonald elected with 67 percent of the vote. to set the example of standing on The political career of Lawrence Nevertheless, the 1980 edition [of the principle — even if he is the only one. Patton McDonald, M.D. (first Almanac] opined that McDonald’s It makes no difference to the true elected as a Democrat in Georgia’s seat that year was “almost certain to statesman if voting on principle places 7th district in 1974) demonstrates attract tough competition,” and “it him on the losing side of an issue. that a constitutionally voting seems likely that some day he will He doesn’t vote for a little poison congressman can be highly influential succumb.” Yet he was re-elected with as a means to prevent liberals from — in spite of his party leadership. 68 percent of the vote, and in 1982 administering a bigger dose. The true Several conservative indices rated garnered 61 percent, securing his fifth statesman stands up and says, “Any McDonald’s voting record at 100 term. poison is wrong, and I am not going to percent, because he consistently voted Following the 1982 election, the be a party to it.” But if a congressman against unconstitutional spending and liberal Atlanta newspaper serving thinks the solution has to be forged for lower taxes. McDonald’s district admitted that within the scope of party politics, he is But was he influential? At the Larry was unbeatable and openly limited merely to negotiating over the conclusion of McDonald’s freshman amount of poison to be administered year, Senator Barry Goldwater (R- to our Republic. AZ) observed that Larry McDonald In contrast, the statesman who had perhaps “contributed more to the stands on principle provides an Congress than … any other freshman essential rallying point for conforming who has ever come here.” government to the Constitution. It then A July 1983 Conservative Digest becomes the job of responsible citizens subscriber poll reflected legions of to give the principled representative similar testimonies. To the question, support, pressure other incumbents “Which of these 12 conservative to do likewise, and work to send leaders most represent your personal reinforcements. A representative’s philosophy?” 21.6 percent chose Larry principled stand will encourage the McDonald (the

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