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 — 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 ’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 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 top scorer) as opposed American people to carry out these to 1.0 percent for Newt Gingrich (who responsibilities and embolden other came in last). To the question, “Who representatives and candidates to would you like to see as the future follow his example. leader of American conservatives?” Political pragmatists will often Larry tied with for 2nd insist that standing on principle is place (Phil Crane came in first), with politically impractical. But the year- Newt Gingrich again trailing in last to-year political climate has nothing place. Maverick constitutionalist: Democrat to do with the rightness or wrongness A principled stand in today’s Larry McDonald, M.D., repeatedly dem- of a position. And what appears climate may not win the favor of onstrated that a congressman could politically “impossible” this year can uninformed, misled voters. But buck his party and the local media, vote become politically popular next year. Congressman McDonald certainly the Constitution, and still get re-elected Put differently, what is politically demonstrated that, with organized — if voters were first informed.

3 Freedom First Society worried that he had his eye on a Senate every one of these programs could course, must ultimately come from an seat. (Note: Larry McDonald’s career create major disruptions and a new informed electorate. in Congress was cut short in 1983 brand of injustice by defaulting on when a Soviet missile brought down solemn commitments. Confusing Choices the commercial airliner, KAL flight 7, A case can certainly be made There are all kinds of hypothetical on which he was a passenger.) for a phase-out period for some situations that one could dream up. unconstitutional programs. But the However, we should remember that What about a phase-out period? distinguishing factor must be that the proponents of unconstitutional In every Congress, most of the the goal is constitutional government spending are not anxious to provide significant measures that come to a — a complete removal of the clear choices and that many politicians floor vote have good and bad elements. unconstitutional program from the welcome confusion so that they In decades past, when the Republicans federal budget — rather than merely a cannot be pinned down. In such (with the better fiscal image) would reduction in its scope or (even worse) cases, the proper course is to vote no gain control in Congress, major a reduction in the rate of increase in and hold out for better legislation. spending bills would occasionally order to achieve a balanced budget. In the vast majority of situations, an offer significant cuts in bad programs, We look forward to the day when understanding of the Constitution and while other unconstitutional spending the national debate focuses on how a commitment to principle are all that programs in the same bills were barely best to get the federal government is needed to evaluate legislation. It touched or even increased. Should out of these programs. Our view is worked for Larry McDonald! a congressman be pleased with this that some assets and responsibilities progress and give it his stamp of should probably be transferred to approval? In the examples discussed, the states, other programs should be our answer is no. privatized, and still others allowed to However, when the time comes die a natural death (run their term and that a majority of congressmen not be renewed). are truly determined to eliminate But there is certainly no need unconstitutional spending, the for a lengthy phase-out period for question will arise as to how fast a number of programs, such as unconstitutional programs have to be foreign aid. In most cases, the people cut in order to merit the support of a foreign aid is ostensibly designed committed constitutionalist. Don’t to help are actually injured by our justice and reality demand a phase-out financial aid to their ruling elites. For period? many counterproductive programs, Unfortunately, we are not in that implementing cuts slowly would situation yet, and the question asked prolong the agony, create further today is generally used to justify injustice, and delay the visible benefits unsupportable political compromise needed to reinforce support for the and posturing. But looking ahead, cuts. we acknowledge that restoring And let’s not forget that delays invite gopleader.gov constitutional government won’t be a successful counterattack from the easy even when the political will supporters of big government. When A new betrayal in the works? House exists to do it. the political will to make change Republican Leader John Boehner claims Even the best Congress could not exists, it is dangerous to draw out the he “was instrumental in crafting the responsibly dismantle the entire process unnecessarily. Moreover, any [1994] ‘Contract With America.’” In 2010, in a day. Liberals have Congress that defers all of the difficult he wants Republicans to run on a new hooked large numbers of our people cost cutting to a future Congress is Boehner-designed platform. and a large share of our economy on not acting responsibly — there is no the drug of government management guarantee that the next Congress will For additional copies of this and subsidy. Going cold turkey with have any greater will. That will, of reprint, call (888) 347-7809.

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