| One of my quotes from an interview during the 2009 Hoboken mayoral election that I continue to get questions about is that I refused the label and suggested that there were no real reformers running even though several people were using that label. The questioners point out that I have a very long reformer resume and could legitimately claim the label. I replied that in terms of politics I don't always know what someone means when they call themselves a reformer. So instead of more labeling, I suggest we explore "political reformer" and start with a few questions: 1) What is a political reformer 2) What isn’t a political reformer 3) How can one tell the difference? The most obvious and laziest definition of reformer is one that advocates for reform. Another is "one who, when he smells a rat, is eager to let the cat out of the bag". When we think of "reformers" in terms of politics we think of someone who works to "abolish abuse or malpractice", "correct evil, abuse, or error", and/or "to give up harmful or immoral practices; persuade to adopt a better way of life". Core in all these definitions is that a reformer is part of a cause that is focused on changing behavior, modifying conduct, and establishing a standard of acceptable practices that are evenly applied to all. As a politician a reformer it is about a consistency between words and deeds, new ideas and fair practices. The flip side is that a reformer is not about maintaining the status quo or say they have to “fight fire with fire” as a justification for engaging in the same behavior as the corruption they are running against. A reformer knows that real change is about behavior and so does not engage in the cult of personality. They know and their actions reflect that changing the players without changing how the game is played is meaningless. Telling the difference between a real reformer and someone who calls themselves that to get votes is difficult. So here is a list of questions to ask to help. Think of them as the political reformer version of the certified public accountant exam or a certified political reformer exam. The extra credit questions are the more extreme of the category. Politics as Usual (Hypocrisy) 1) Has the politician been accused of doing something illegal, unethical or immoral and their response to point fingers, i.e., something along the lines of “well, so-and-so did it”? 2) Has the politician labeled an opponent as corrupt and then engaged in the same or similar behavior themselves? 3) Have they ever justified their own behavior by split hairs between what is legal and what is ethical? 4) When they make a mistake excuses instead of apologizing? 5) When asked about an appointment or hiring on their campaign or office do they make some reference to you “not understanding” or “its politics”? 6) Do they avoid discussions of specific process or behavior changes they will make to reform the system? 7) Extra credit question: if they are in office, do they refer to their campaign for reelection or higher offer as “grassroots”? Cult of Personality (Bully and Blame): 8) When they give specifics of what reform they are fighting for is it about a person or group of people? 9) When faced with a financial or other difficult policy issue did they blame it on the poor or make scapegoats of a nebulous group (i.e., seniors, unions, “the machine”, Wall Street, government, etc.)? 10) When the politician was questioned about illegal, unethical or immoral behavior did they attack, vilify or name-call the person who asked, claimed the questioner is attacking them or some other defensive technique? 11) Have they or their supporters used the internet or any other media to make personal attacks on anyone? 12) Extra credit question: when questioned about their behavior from within the movement, have they or their campaign ever called out the questioner for not being a “real reformer” or for “attacking reformers”? If when assessing a politician with the above questions and you answered “yes” to five or more, they are a RINO (reformer in name only). Sorry. But don’t get mad at them. There is a rule of thumb that the life expectancy of reformer politician nationally is 5 years. That's a national average so you can bet that some places it is as low as 6 months or even 6 days. The primary reason sited for how a reformer "turns bad" is fear, fear of losing. The fear of losing is stronger than the desire for change or their commitment to the cause. Some proffered getting distracted from the mission, which is the number one cause for failure amongst non-profits. But a review of interviews with fallen reformers have them saying things like "well, you have to get elected", "it was political", "it is how things get done", etc. We've all heard it from Marion Barry to Rod Blagojevich and we’ll certainly hear it again and again if we refuse to learn from our mistakes. How do good intentions get so easily supplanted by a need to win? It is because the politically active (contributors, operatives and volunteers) "have a one strike and you are out" perspective. This creates desperation in reformer candidates to win or they won't have a chance to make the changes they so sincerely desire. Then people start whispering in their ears about how they can't win if they don't do this or that, and how it can't be that bad because look what so-and-so is doing. The temptation becomes too strong for most and they start taking short-cuts, trimming corners and bending the rules; winning by any means necessary. Real reform starts with the politically active. We need to say it is better to lose than to win at any cost - and mean it. If we really want reform and to elect reformers, then we need to support and vote for the behavior we want to represent us. We need to not be distracted by pretty faces and prettier platitudes. We need to remember that two wrongs don't make a right. We need to have a zero tolerance policy on hypocrisy and bullying. We need to stop participating in the cult of personality and become devotees of the competent. A nun once told me that living the precepts of Christ - turn the other cheek, love they neighbor, etc. - is the hardest job in the world. Being a political reformer may be a close second. |
