A Politician of Integrity

With scandals abounding it seems hard to find someone in public life who is a person of integrity. There are those who give us hope, but we always seem to be waiting for the other shoe to drop.

But in a reflection written by James Armstrong, a retired Methodist Bishop, on the life of Senator George McGovern, we learn of one who had that integrity. Growing up as I did in a strongly GOP home, and having gone door to door for Nixon at the age of 14 in 1972, George McGovern wasn't someone we talked about very much at home. He was the naive anti-war candidate (sound familiar?). But as I read this reflection I grew in my respect and admiration of one who lived his faith (he's a Methodist PK) who has a Ph.D. in history (ah, a man after my own heart). He knew war from the cockpit of a B-29, and yet he stood front and center against dragging out the Vietnam War.

In his book Essential America, a book I've not read, he spoke of his friendship with and admiration of Republican colleagues including Barry Goldwater, Mark Hatfield, Jacob Javits, Dick Lugar, and Bob Dole -- whom he called a "true 'compassionate conservative'."

Armstrong writes:

In sharp contrast to today’s politics of deceit and corruption, McGovern represents honor. Once asked about morality in public life he simply said, “Don’t lie.” Beyond that, “find out what the truth is.” He added, “Simple kindness….being genuinely compassionate and concerned about the feelings and well-being of other people.”) Robert Kennedy once said, “George is the most decent man in the Senate.” Then he added somewhat wryly, “As a matter of fact, he’s the only one.”)

Although Dick Cheney has tried to muddy his image and call into question his patriotism, unlike the VP, McGovern has a record of service in the military that suggests otherwise.

And what of the future -- Armstrong speaks of a recent correspondence with the now 85 year old statesman:

I WROTE MCGOVERN RECENTLY and asked him about the 2008 election. He replied, “My hopes for the 2008 election carry me back to the cry of 1972—‘Come Home America.’ That was a call for the nation to return to its founding ideals. We have paid a costly price for continuing to wander in the wilderness of needless war and mistaken public priorities. The Bush-Cheney team has taken us the furthest from the Constitution and the Bill of Rights of any administration in our national history. Jefferson’s lament is much on my mind: ‘I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.’ It is a moral imperative that 2008 should open the way for America to become once again a witness to the world for what is decent and just in human affairs.”

What if America had chosen to take a different route and had voted for George McGovern in 1972? Might this world have been a better place? No one will know, but soon we will vote again and we will have choices to make. Who will then be the ones to resurrect this legacy of honor, decency, and integrity in the public realm?

This is really an important piece to take a look at. If you're not a subscriber to The Progressive Christian maybe now is the time to check it out. If you go to the website here you will find an opportunity to gain a visitor's access -- in exchange for letting them contact you. And while you're there check out my review of Matthew Sutton's Aimee Semple McPherson and the Resurrection of Christian America.