What John McCain Taught Us About Leadership and How the Republican Party Has Abandoned It

Hal Gessner
Sep 1, 2018 · 2 min read

In 2008, a woman at a McCain — Palin campaign town hall rally said she could not trust Barak Obama because he was an Arab. Senator McCain took the microphone from her hand and corrected her. He said, “No. Mr. Obama is a decent family man and a citizen.” The crowd began to jeer Senator McCain, but he persisted. “I admire Senator Obama and his accomplishments. I will respect him…” The jeering rose louder, but Senator McCain went on. What happened next was very revealing….

In 1994, after the Republicans swept the House and Senate, Newt Gingrich called for a “permanent Republican majority”. I remember being saddened that a United States congressman would espouse something so undemocratic. It wasn’t just talk. Using wedge issues to set the sleeves of their base on fire, and gerrymandering and attempts at voter suppression to lock up districts, the Republicans implemented a strategy to achieve their dream. In the decades that followed, the Republican base moved farther and farther to the right, stoked by a cocktail of fear and resentment. Perhaps it is fair to say that Republican politicians did not foresee the malignant results of their efforts. Perhaps they never imagined a president who would embrace Vladimir Putin as he sought to undermine the very foundations of our democracy, while denigrating the men and women of the FBI and CIA who dedicate themselves to protecting it. Perhaps they never dreamed of a day when Trump supporters would wear T shirts with the logo “I’d rather be a Russian than a Democrat”. Perhaps they never dreamed of a day when the President would tell supporters that if the other party won, there would be violence. Perhaps they never dreamed of a president so fragile that he would call every criticism of him “fake news”. Perhaps they never dreamed that a portion of voters in this country would go so far off the rails as to elect a reality star President of the United States. But here we are.

So now the question is, has the lust for power so enthralled Republicans that they are willing to sacrifice decency, honesty, compassion and the honor of this country to stay in control, or will they put America first? Do they have the moral spines to speak truth to their base?

Back at that McCain — Palin rally, as the jeers rained down on Senator McCain, he continued, “…I want everyone to be respectful, and that’s the way politics should be conducted in America.” In an instant, the jeers turned to cheers. Senator McCain had reminded his fellow citizens what this country is about.

That was a moment that has all but disappeared today: a politician turning to his supporters and saying ‘no, you are wrong.’ Did those voters abandon him? No, they embraced him. Perhaps people actually feel respected when someone speaks honestly to them. Perhaps people feel good when their leaders appeal to their better natures. And that is the challenge of leadership. Can the Republican Party rise to it?

    Hal Gessner

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    I am a certified mediator and conflict coach specializing in the areas of Commercial, Divorce, Marital and Family mediation. https://GessnerMediation.com