TRUTH AND THE AMERICAN WAY

By Edwin Cooney

Last Monday, Mother Jones Magazine released an iPhone video camera recording of Mitt Romney asserting to a room full of Conservatives who had spent $50,000 for a plate of food at a Florida GOP fundraiser what he really thought of and expected from almost half of the American people.  Since the release of that video, Mr. Romney’'s political prospects seem to be taking something of a beating.  GOP congressional and other candidates appear to have been running for cover ever since.  The cause of this GOP flight is obviously the unpopularity of Mr. Romney’s truth-telling.

Long before George Washington’'s fabled but apocryphal assertion to his father during his childhood “cherry tree caper” that "“I can not tell a lie",” Americans were weaned on the importance of “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” whether in church, court or on the political stump.

The importance of “truth”-telling is written, as it should be, into every God-given religious code or doctrine.  Here'’s an example: “Ye shall know the truth and the truth will set you free (”—John 8:32).

Exactly how the truth will set one free and who will be freed, the truth-teller or the recipient of the truth, is always up for grabs. Therein obviously is the rub.  If it was clear that the truth-teller is set free from worry or punishment, lying, perhaps especially in politics, would be a relic of the past.  However, if the recipient of the truth is the only one set free, well, that'’s quite another matter, isn'’t it!

Truth in politics, especially in an election year, has almost always been suspect.  Sometimes it’'s suspect due to its absence.  However, sometimes its very presence scares the liver out of those who most insist upon it—: the American voter.  We don'’t have to go back very far at all in presidential politics to see exactly what havoc “the truth” can do to a presidential candidate’'s prospects.

In late August of 1976, former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter had a commanding lead over incumbent President Jerry Ford.  It was nearly 30 points.  Then, as many political pundits saw it, Carter made a serious gaff.  Carter told the annual meeting of the American Legion that if elected president he’'d grant amnesty to draft dodgers and deserters in order to cleanse the nation of the long festering wounds of the Vietnam War.  Suddenly, President Ford’'s popularity, even with the burden of the Nixon pardon, began to rise.  About a month later, jimmy Carter revealed to a Playboy interviewer the presence of lust in his heart when, occasionally, his baby blues gazed upon an attractive woman.  Almost immediately, President Ford’'s popularity headed toward the stratosphere on the wings of Carter’s second “truth-telling.”  A few million Americans who’ had been taken with the rather shy but charismatic little Georgian were suddenly freed from their enchantment with Carter to dream of the inevitable rise of Ronald Reagan.

Eight years later, Walter Frederick (Fritz) Mondale stood at the podium of the Democratic National Convention, which was being held in San Francisco, to accept the party'’s presidential nomination.  That night, Mondale told the American people that he'’d undoubtedly raise taxes if he were elected, and he went on to assert that, although he wouldn'’t admit it, the other fellow would, too.  Mondale was right of course about what the other fellow would do as he never got the chance to raise our taxes.  In 1986, President Reagan’s tax reform act raised corporate and capitol gains taxes to the highest level in our history because Walter Mondale'’s “truth” had set President Reagan free to do exactly that.

Hence we come to 2012 and the revelation last week that Governor Mitt Romney had sought, back in May, Conservative support by appealing to some of their rawest preconceptions and prejudices.  Since the days of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Republicans, especially Conservative Republicans,  have regaled themselves with stories of the outrageous activities and attitudes of “welfare queens,” ungrateful and ideologically suspect immigrants, the slothful irresponsible poor and the comparative immorality and unAmericanism of those who insist on civil rights for the poor, blacks, gays, lesbians and women.  Most, if not all, Conservatives believe down where they live that they have a monopoly on initiative, personal responsibility and a yearning to be free of government handouts.  Thus, Governor Romney in his appeal for their financial support told a roomful of rich GOP donors his “inelegant” “truth” that nearly half of all Americans live happily and irresponsibly off the government.

In the wake of the political firestorm caused by the Governor’'s remarks there exists another “truth.: the possibility that this long-held Conservative “truth” could signal the death knell of Mr. Romney'’s hopes for victory.  Even worse for the GOP is the possibility that the fortunes of Conservative candidates all over the country could be at risk.  Hungry and vengeful Democrats have been rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect that Romney’'s “truth”-telling may push 5 to 7 percent of undecided Americans into President Obama’'s camp.

Personally, I welcome the Governor'’s truth, not because I believe it, but because it’'s what he and many of his supporters deeply believe. “The truth will out” is one of the most encouraging “truths” ever told.  Uncomfortable as “truth” can be, truth is the God-given cornerstone of trust.

Trust is, after all, the “mother'’s milk” of God'’s greatest gift - love - whether for our Creator, our world, our country or for ourselves.  Not even the most scheming politician or cynical voter can long thrive in the absence of love!

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

EDWIN COONEY