Munro, Barnard, Hern: 3 Exemplary Politicians
The fax arrived Tuesday. The letter came Wednesday. Both scolded “Bagpipes.”
The object of scorn was one reader’s praise for former House Speaker Tom Foley as a politician worthy of respect.
“Bias,” said Jim Allen’s fax. “Hogwash,” said Harry Davidson’s letter.
The lesson from this experience?
As earnestly as Americans may desire a higher, more respectful, more civil tone in political discourse - and we keep saying we do - we aren’t very skilled at it.
That may explain why, when “Bagpipes” invited readers to name some politicians and political activities about which they could say something nice, only one response came back. (And the writer of that one, the one that attracted at least two lashings, couldn’t resist a parting dig at current House Speaker Newt Gingrich.)
Maybe we just need more practice. So, for starters …
Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro is a Republican who has been indifferent to the party affiliations of other state officials, working as affably with Democrats as with fellow Republicans - and taking both to task, if necessary, when it looked as if partisanship was hampering efforts to improve the conduct of elections, which Munro’s office oversees.
Closer to home, Jack Hern was chairman of the Spokane County Republican Party 20 years ago. He was the candidate of Ronald Reagan conservatives who had just swept Dan Evans moderates out of power. The internal rancor was so deep that Evans himself, ultimately a strong contender for the vice presidential nomination, was denied a spot in his own state’s delegation to the Republican National Convention in Kansas City.
Despite the divisiveness, Hern opted for graciousness over gloating. He took pains to treat all factions of the party fairly and to preserve a role for his rivals in party affairs.
Speaking of graciousness, how about former Spokane Mayor Sheri Barnard? You say you didn’t agree with her? No matter. A genuine people person and an eternal optimist, Barnard lives out her conviction that talking problems out is the way to achieve progress and understanding. She was as cordial with critics as with supporters.
Those are three nominations. Are there others?
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