Zoeller encourages political civility

As a dual-citizen in the realm of Big Ten loyalties, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, a Republican, has experience reaching across party lines when it comes to his Hoosiers and Boilermakers. He received degrees from both IU and Purdue University — but his diplomatic approach to this college sport rivalry isn’t the only bipartisan movement he preaches.

Zoeller spoke at Monday’s IU College Republicans meeting about the pressing need for today’s young people to revamp the political atmosphere.

“The sport of politics has changed,” Zoeller said. “The inability of people to work across parties has left legislation, our work and Congress worse off in a lot of places.”

Zoeller reached out to the College Republicans in mid-January, hoping to speak to both their organization and the IU College Democrats about his bipartisan message. College Republicans Press Secretary Kristen Cobb said the College Democrats were unable to attend because their weekly meeting was going on at the same time.

Zoeller said he was disappointed both groups weren’t able to come together for his visit to IU and focused his talk on the importance of finding a central purpose in politics today.

“You all have to do better,” he said. “You all have to reach out and find some common ground ... I think people in my generation have ruined politics. They have so poisoned what used to be a legislative art form.”

Zoeller spoke of his political background, explaining the effect of his first job out of law school. He worked with then-freshman Dan Quayle in the Labor and Human Resources Committee to lower unemployment.

They collaborated with late Senator Edward Kennedy, a Democrat, to combat unemployment. Zoeller emphasized the bipartisanship they exercised to turn an $11 billion bill into a $3 billion program “instead of just throwing out the whole thing.”

Zoeller was raised in a predominantly Democratic family but found he was more comfortable with the ideals of small government that embody the Republican party.

When Zoeller mentioned Indiana is among the 26 states suing the federal government about the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, he received a resounding applause from the crowd of about 50
students.

He said he doesn’t believe government should just throw money at programs and hope things work out, but he quickly turned the message back to one of compromise, saying “the government has a role, though, and you can’t walk away from the problems.”
He spoke of his unique role in politics as attorney general and reminisced about his work with judges of both parties from across the state.

“The oath of an attorney is to serve your clients’ interests above your own,” he said. “It’s almost a vocation, not just some occupation.”

Zoeller wrapped up by challenging the students to invite the College Democrats to sit down, “not on opposite sides, like Congress,” to talk about the issues
civilly.