The Poison of Partisan Politics

The concept of people with varying political, social, and economic ideas joining together for the advancement of their ideas within the public arena is a useful arrangement. The point of reference here is the political party system. If ideologues organize and present their cause in a manner that can be analyzed and challenged publicly, it could prove healthy for the nation. Ideally, democracy is rooted in the mind of the citizenry. Therefore, if the citizenry forms its collective mind relative to public policy in an informed manner as the result of political parties fairly debating their views, that is helpful. Such a process could result in formulating a government that is both of the people and for the people.

However, the ideals behind political parties have been largely abandoned in favor of blind bias. The most vocal members of political parties, especially those vying for public office, too often seem far more concerned about promoting their party's power than they are about a serious grappling with issues of truth. This is "partisan politics". Instead of a fair and honest debate on the matters most relevant to the public good, political partisans labor zealously to win votes by whatever means. Most often that includes mean-spirited attacks on the opposing party. Slanderous misrepresentations and caricatures, distortions of the opposing positions have replaced honest, straightforward dialogue. As a result, the public is deprived of the information necessary to make wise, safe decisions.

The on-going commission investigating "9/11" is a case in point. The questions posed by the commission members frequently appear more designed to advance the members' respective party than to ascertain truth. Whatever is included in the final report, it will almost certainly be more the product of political negotiation than of a ruthless inquiry for the truth without regard to which party ends up looking bad or good. So much of the political process is about brokering power and not about what is true and right and best for the nation. Consequently, the process has produced dishonesty, manipulation, hatred, and division within a nation of "brothers".

The impetus for this discussion occurred on Tuesday evening, April 13 at the President's news conference. Regardless of one's party affiliation, the products of partisan politics should have been plain. Arguably, as of September 11, 2001 the United States was plunged into war. Our homeland was attacked. The mastermind was Osama bin Laden. Yet, in listening to the questions posed to the President one would have thought that he was the enemy. Not a single question inquired as to the search for the real enemy or the disruption of his terrorist network. Not one! The questions were, in the main, an attempt to discredit the President and his administration. That demonstrates the ugliness and the disservice of partisanship. The burning issue is not defeating a grave threat to our national interest. The matter of supreme importance is seizing the power! Sadly, this is true of both political parties. And the media has given itself to being a vehicle for the grab for power instead of making a determined inquiry after the non-partisan truth. That was too clear to be missed in that news conference.

All this is a frightening example of the loss of national character. Leaders of character set principle, truth, and the common good far ahead of party or personal interest. Furthermore, men and women of character in the populace refuse to allow their leaders to sacrifice the common good for partisan causes. In other words, they demand integrity of their government officials and they can discern the difference between statesmanship and partisanship. Our nation is in desperate need of a spiritual and moral awakening. Otherwise, we hazard the loss of our freedom to malicious enemies while our leaders are busy attacking each other. As a nation, we need the discernment which comes only through a knowledge of the Truth, even the Incarnate Word of God—Jesus Christ. Christ delivers from the crippling and depraved lust for raw power that corrupts both political leaders and the political process.