Opinion: Leaders or Scoundrels? 2010 Election Could Change Everything

By Jennifer Hartline
10/27/2010
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

I still believe there are men and women with honor out there and they could be our elected leaders. The question is, will we choose them?

It's appalling that so many men and women without honor are rising to positions of consequence. What has happened to honor? Give me a man who would rather die than behave dishonorably. Give me a woman who will not degrade herself or spill her own child's blood. Give me a leader who inspires by virtue of his character and actions. Give me a leader who serves. I still believe there are men and women with honor out there and they could be our elected leaders. The question is, will we choose them?

It's not perfection I'm looking for, and certainly not a savior. I have a Savior. I'm simply longing for a genuine leader.

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WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - There's nothing quite like election season to leave a bitter taste in your mouth, is there? This year's campaigning is particularly acidic. I'd say I'll be relieved when it's over but the problem is it never seems to end.

When I take note, state by state, of the weasely, dishonest, greedy, smug, power-drunk creeps that are being elected and re-elected to our government's chambers, I am both disgusted and flabbergasted. It's appalling that so many men and women without honor are rising to positions of consequence; it's downright mystifying that having shown their true colors they are rewarded for their disgrace with another opportunity to be publicly disgraceful.

It's tempting to think that the virtue of leadership has been all but eradicated. What has happened to honor? What has happened to our appetite for it? What about integrity? What of self-control, decency, respect, graciousness, humility, or honesty? It's a drowsy, lazy and disinterested electorate that does not require virtue and good character from its officials.

Oodles of our public servants routinely cheat, lie, and steal to their hearts' content. They break their private and public vows again and again. They make excuses and justify and hold a press conference to perform a tearful apology and then cheat, lie and steal some more. They have no honor.

It's not perfection I'm looking for, and certainly not a savior. I have a Savior. I'm simply longing for a genuine leader. Someone who will remember who works for whom here. Remember Barbara Boxer's rude display earlier this year when a senior military officer had the decency to call her "Ma'am" and she dressed him down like he was a snotty adolescent? "Call me Senator -- I've worked so hard for that title," she whined. Boxer desperately needs reminding that if indeed she has worked hard, it's supposed to have been for the people, not to get herself a title. She's a public servant, not the Queen of Sheba. (And if military protocol is so offensive to her, by all means we should make sure she's never subjected to it again.)

I'm longing for a leader who doesn't explain away his own failures by intimating the masses are just too stupid to understand what he's trying to do for us. The condescension coming from President Obama toward Americans is unbelievable. Those who don't agree with him and aren't thrilled with his policies and plans are just "not thinking straight." Anyone not voting for Democrats next week is accused of being "scared" and somehow giving in to fear instead of facts.

He goes on the radio and makes a pitch to African-Americans to get out and vote for Democrats, implying they may not understand the importance of this election. "Everybody in the barbershops, the beauty shops, and at work - everybody's got to understand: This is a huge election; if we turn out in strong numbers, then we will do fine. If we do not, if we are depressed and decide, 'well, you know, Barack's not running right now, so I'm just going to stay home,' then I'm going to have my hands full up here on Capitol Hill."

Naturally, it's all about him. Isn't it just a tad insulting that the President assumes the only reason African-Americans will get out and vote is to support him? And "we'll" be just fine as long as Democrats are re-elected? Who's "we?"

The snobbery continued this week when he said that if Republicans wish to come along for the economic recovery ride, "they gotta sit in back."

He continues to insist the reason Americans aren't skipping with glee over the new health care law is that we still don't understand it; we either didn't listen or he didn't talk about it enough or didn't use small enough words for the peasants to comprehend. (Well, there may be a grain of truth to that - Nancy Pelosi herself said the bill had to be passed in order to find out what was in it.)

Again and again, this President shows his arrogance and his contempt for those who aren't falling in line with his agenda. It seems in his mind it just can't be possible that we have seen him clearly, heard him clearly, understood him clearly and rejected all of it soundly!

Where are the leaders who are willing to place themselves under the same laws and penalties they wish to inflict on us? If the Obama/Pelosi/Reid Health Care Extravaganza is so fabulous and benevolent, why isn't everyone on Capitol Hill joining in the party? They grouse at the mere suggestion that those ...

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1 - 10 of 45 Comments

Susan
2 years ago
Grimes, the same "predictable positions" come from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The teachings of the Church that Catholics are required to follow do not change. Voting is a required obligation. If you would stop challenging our Pope and complete Magesterium, people would not have to correct you so often on this Catholic web site.
Paul
2 years ago
John Grimes - you are right. You continually write as an adversary to the "Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition". When you do this, you are defying the Pope and the Magesterium of the Church. I hope readers know that all bloggers on this site are not screened for being real Catholics, and you can tell by their statements contrary to the REQUIRED teachings in the "CCC 2nd Ed".
Anne
2 years ago
John G., the Catholic teaching needs no clarification. It is very clear. Apparently you are not Catholic or you would know what the "CCC 2nd Ed" says, and you would not write so many "Catholic" falsehoods - there is a section in the CCC regarding use of media and truth. However, voting the lessor of the evils (when necessary) is appropriate for Catholics, but Catholics must vote. Please do not try to encourage real Catholics away from Catholic teaching. Why are you so afraid of Catholics voting?
Rob
2 years ago
I merely want to understand. I guess I would have an easier time accepting this "mandate" if politicans were held to the same standard and our Church was teaching as if abortion was the primary issue. But honestly, in this last year I have heard more about the economy, stewardship and immigration than I've heard about abortion. I know there are those organizations that focus it on this issue 100% of the time, and thank God for them, but that isn't the whole church. I just need to understand because I'm starting to feel like I'll receive a completed absentee ballot in the mail and just turn it in.
vance
2 years ago
Grimes, "Why are we required to vote". I believe you've heard the saying that "it is your civic duty". Your communist china analogy doesn't hold up because you are comparing China to the US- apples and oranges. So far we are a free country to vote for our candidates in primaries. This is where Pro-Lifers can run as Democrats. BUT George Soros has complete control over this process. SO you can opt to vote for a person who agrees to not take more from your paycheck, agrees not to up your property tax, not to up your sales tax, and who believes Roe vs Wade should be over turned. Sounds like a moral individual to me.
John Grimes
2 years ago
Anne: This discussion is actually quite boring, the same predictable positions from the same predictable people. But something you said caught my eye: "By the way Rob you are required to VOTE if you are Catholic." If that is so, would I fulfill this requirement if I showed up at the polling place and marked my ballot ' Mickey Mouse' or 'myself'? Or does this rule also command me to vote only for certain approved candidates? Is there no place for principled abstention? What about following the dictates of one's well-formed conscience? Or will a well-formed conscience always make one choose one of the officially approved candidates? Are Catholics in, say, Communist China also obliged to participate in the rigged elections that may be arranged in their country? If not -- and if he is not jailed for not participating -- just how would the Chinese Catholic know where this obligation ceases to have force for him? This is an area of Catholic teaching that, I think you'll agree, demands some clarification.
Rob
2 years ago
Vance, I hear what you are saying. But it just seems that no real burden is placed on our politicians. They are permitted to analyze the political lanscape and defer action on life, but we the voters are not. I am not permitted to consider the other social justice issues of the day because my primary task is to elect prolife politicians. There is some patent unfairness to this process. Or maybe just an expectations gap. I know the house republicans will work hard to make a symbolic attempt to repeal healthcare. But for the reasons you stated, they will not be successful. I guess I would like to see the same efforts made for pro-life issues.
vance
2 years ago
Rob, you are right about politicians not getting a pass if they don't deliver. You need to look at the full picture. The Republicans may have had control of congress for 10 years BUT there was no super majority to pass anti-abortion bills. There were the east coast Republican Liberals who got in the way and sided with the Democrat Party. It's been a tough fight against Democrat and Republican Liberals. We now have a new Republican majority that is very Pro-Life BUT they are up against a Harry Reid Senate majority and Obama. They can push Pro-Life legislation but you and I know well that it isn't going anywhere passed Harry Reid and Obama. Rob, don't shoot your friends on the conservative side rather shoot yours and my enemies on the Liberal Left side.
Rob
2 years ago
Vance, I will give you that. My mistake for forgetting about that. But why only go half way? Of the percentage of abortions does yearly, how many are partial births? 15 years is a long time and a lot of lives. But I do realize that we should be happy with any pro-life victory. I'm sorry if I've developed a what have you done lately. We voters aren't given a 15 year pass on voting for whomever we want, I don't think our pro-life politicians should get a pass. Shouldn't they be held to the same standard. I have to prove my pro-life stance every election, shouldn't they every legislative session?
osbert
2 years ago
Everyone seeks for the best.But who gives the best is always the problem any where in the world.I believe in your write up and sincerity.We must not loose hope.Even if we do not get the leaders in the world we have them in our families.And they emerge when the cry of God's people gets to Him.

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