the daily snivel

Talking Points Memo, a blog I read almost daily, is highlighting a video clip featuring Ben Barnes, the former Speaker of the House in Texas. Evidently this is the man who got President Bush into the Texas Air National Guard at a time when many were seeking this haven from the draft during the Vietnam war. He has this to say about that exercise of influence for the sons of the wealthy:

Let’s talk a minute about John Kerry and George Bush and I know them both. And I’m not name dropping to say I know ‘em both. I got a young man named George W. Bush in the National Guard when I was Lt. Gov. of Texas and I’m not necessarily proud of that. But I did it. And I got a lot of other people into the National Guard because I thought that was what people should do, when you're in office you helped a lot of rich people. And I walked through the Vietnam Memorial the other day and I looked at the names of the people that died in Vietnam and I became more ashamed of myself than I have ever been because it was the worst thing that I did was that I helped a lot of wealthy supporters and a lot of people who had family names of importance get into the National Guard and I’m very sorry about that and I’m very ashamed and I apologize to you as voters of Texas.

The clip is here.

I have become so sickened by the flinging of slime during this election campaign, if not surprised (given that this is one of the most contentious and divisive elections in American history). I am especially upset with the brutal character assassination attempts by the Bush administration and its friends in the Swift Boat Veterans for Politically Motivated Lies Truth. John Kerry went to Vietnam, and both the accounts of eyewitnesses and military records establish beyond any reasonable doubt, debate, or discourse that he acted heroically, was wounded in action on at least three occasions, and deserved the medals he has been awarded. The only motivation behind these lies is to plant the idea in a largely uncritical media that these objective historical facts have ever been open to interpretation. And as every day passes by and we see not only the incontrovertible contradictions to the nearly every SBV claim, but also the exposure of many political, personal, and financial ties between this group and Karl Rove, the Republican Party, and the White House.

Bush has only gone so far as to clamor for an end to "shadowy attacks." He has never condemned the group's tactics. Nor would he, as these dirty tricks served him well in 2000 just as they serve him well now. The formula? Don't just attack your opponent's weaknesses. Make weaknesses up ("flip flopper" and "unstable" and now "lying about his service"), especially when they undermine an opponent's greatest strengths (military service in wartime).

What happened to the time when people made honesty a heroic trait? What about self-sacrifice? What about standing up for what you believe in? When I look at most politicians these days, all I see is dissembling and self-interest and catchphrases like "Common Sense Revolution" and "Compassionate Conservative" that imply a great deal more than they actually deliver.

I had a conversation with a friend this week in which I lamented over my observation that what really seems to matter these days is winning. Winners -- those who come ahead and place first -- are our heroes, be it in sports or politics or journalism or schooling. And that isn't inherently a bad thing. Excellence is something to strive for, and a great shame would it be if people allowed their natural talents to lie fallow, or failed to pursue their dreams. But the idea of winning at all costs, instead of "how you play the game," is something I find even more shameful. Cheating has become increasingly fashionable -- and is acceptable insofar as it is rarely caught and seldom punished meaningfully. Cheating is done in politics by lying, dissembling, slandering, and allowing influence to overcome merit and virtue. Cheating in sport is done by an increasing abuse of performance-enhancing drugs (and this is probably as prevalent in high school and university sports as it is among Olympic athletes and professional athletes). Journalists cheat by making up facts, plagiarizing stories, and failing to critically evaluate stories and sources, to the detriment of a woefully misinformed public. Students cheat too. Everyone's heard of the law school legends of people who tear cases out of library books, and everyone knows someone who downloaded his or her essay off the internet. Earlier this summer I talked about the disappointing story of a friend who gave in and let her friend know what to expect an exam she had deferred.

What it boils down to is that it's the result that matters. It's the big bucks or the degree or winning the election or the prize. Whatever it is, if there's a faster and easier way to do it, then this is the way to do it, no matter the cost to integrity. And no matter the hard-working people you trounce whilst on the way up.

When did we stop celebrating integrity, hard work, honesty, and playing by the rules? When did our heroes just become the people who win? And why is winning so important in the first place? I think there is a great deal more to be gained by doing something because you love it and therefore seeing it as worth doing well, whether or not it pays as well or gets you ahead.

Or am I just idealistically thinking people ever really cared about these things?

Well, anyway, I care about these things. And I have nothing but contempt for those who do not.

Update: More on the Barnes and Bush story here.