The Politician’s Game

The GOP debate in Las Vegas on Tuesday revealed an ugly truth that we, as members of a representative democracy, try so very hard to forget.

Candidates are not elected for their intellect, integrity, consistency or history of leadership. They are elected for their ability to play the game. They spin, distort and deny plain truths and are forced to become what the immoral feelings and instincts of their constituency demand.

This truth came into full view when presidential candidates Rick Perry and Mitt Romney had a very unpleasant spat about illegal immigration. Perry accused Romney of hypocrisy for his immigration stance because Romney had employed illegal immigrants to work in his yard. Romney laughed at Perry, and instead of owning up to the claim, he attacked Perry for Texas’ policy of offering in-state tuition to children of illegal immigrants.

It would have been a breath of fresh air, but political suicidal, for Romney to say something like, “Yes, I employed undocumented workers, but I only found out they were undocumented after they had worked for me. In that year, I got to know them as people. They had a face and a name, not just an ‘illegal’ label... We must keep that in mind as we attempt to reform immigration and think of ways to tackle the issue of illegal immigration.”

Such honesty would have led to the end of Romney’s presidential bid. So, instead, Romney the politician evaded the attack by challenging Perry in hopes that voters would either forget about his mistake or find Perry’s immigration policy the greater of two evils.

Politicians must appeal to the lowest common denominator, and, unfortunately, this lowest common denominator does not respond well to reason or nuanced thinking. Consequently, politicians must never apologize or show remorse for anything in their pasts or any of their misguided policies. Thoughtful reflection and judgment are not job requirements.

As evidence, I point you to a recent ABC interview in which President Barack Obama said, “I believe all the choices we’ve made have been the right ones.”

Despite the worsening of the recession and a stalled job market, Obama seems to think he has been doing everything correctly. And wouldn’t we all have loved it if, at one point, Bush had said, “Iraq? Well, uh … oops.”

In the politicians’ game, everything must be spun. Responsibility must be passed on to Congress, Wall Street or China, unless one is taking responsibility for something positive, such as the death of Osama bin Laden or the fall of Saddam Hussein.

To apologize is to show fallibility. With the hyper-intensive scrutiny of our politicians, they are forced to present themselves as perfect creatures or else face the wrath of the media, their fellow politicians and, ultimately, the voters.

Of the current Republican candidates, Romney is the best at playing the game. But an essential part of playing the game is not to reveal there is any game being played at all. Tuesday in Las Vegas, Romney showed his hand.

— sdance@indiana.edu