Add a commentReporter's Note: You might think that the Fourth of July weekend would be a bit of natural holiday for the President of the United States. Not so. And since he is pressing on with his duties, I’ll press on with mine, writing a letter each day to the most famous resident of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Tom Foreman | Bio
AC360° Correspondent
Dear Mr. President,
As we head into the July 4th weekend, let me be the first to wish you a happy Independence Day! (Although, I suspect since it is tomorrow, I’ve already missed the boat on being first, but you get my point…) I’m a great believer in independence; in people standing up for their beliefs, even if the crowd roars against them. In my earlier days, this led to some interesting fashion choices, but I’ve pretty much destroyed the photos now, and the charges have all been dropped, so what’s the harm?
Independence is a somewhat rare commodity in D.C. Now, I’m not talking about Independents, as in “people who don’t belong to either major party, but manage to run for and win office anyway.” They are as scarce as family value conservatives on Gay Pride day. Once in a while, a true Independent will drift into town, but the parties just grab the poor soul’s arms like he or she is a wishbone and start pulling.
No, I’m just talking about independent thinkers; Democratic and Republican lawmakers who listen to the facts of each measure being considered, debate the merits, and then vote some combination of their conscience and the will of their voters, whether or not it matches up to what Party bosses want. Truth is I always thought when I was growing up that that was precisely what Washington was supposed to be about. Of course I suffer from many other delusions, too.
Still, it never ceases to amaze and dismay me to hear the contempt with which political types here talk about any lawmaker who dares to speak his or her mind, and vote for what he or she thinks is “right,” not for just what is expedient.
Maybe I’m crazy (ok..almost certainly) but as you seek to change the culture of Washington, I think that belongs on your list: An effort to push all the political types here, of all stripes, away from convoluted deal-making, and toward more straight-up Horton votes. As in, “I meant what I said, and I said what I meant.” (I know, Horton was an elephant, and that doesn’t sit well with Dems, but I’m going for a comic connection here, not a political one. Work with me.) Most Democrats and Republicans would likely still wind up voting together, because they truly share their parties’ respective philosophies of government. But at least it might seem a little less like ducks marching to the pond in the name of Party, and more like independent thinkers truly trying to do their best for America.
If you get a break around the barbeques and badminton, give me a call. We can sing happy birthday to the country together!
Regards,
Tom
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