With the emergence of the Trump Tape and a seemingly interminable national conversation on “locker room talk,” many Republicans are pulling their support from their nominee for president. Sen. John McCain withdrew his endorsement of Donald Trump, and House Speaker Paul Ryan says he will no longer support the ticket as well.
At first glance, it may appear that these politicians are simply following their consciences and doing what they think is the right thing. Some voters argue that, although they may not like Trump, they support him because they view stopping Hillary as a moral imperative. But this article is focused on the broader trends of this election and draws a more cynical conclusion about politicians.
Let’s be clear: no one who has been paying attention should have been surprised by Trump’s comments. We know what kind of man he is. We know he’s a crude boor with a history of demeaning and objectifying women. The supposed outrage of Republican politicians is not based on moral principles or genuine disgust with Trump, but rather on political considerations.
In a certain sense, it’s been a fascinating thing to watch, as support for Trump has vacillated back and forth based on which side appears more politically toxic at any given moment. During the primary, Trump was regarded as an unserious candidate unworthy of the presidency, and many in the Republican establishment said so. Once he secured the nomination, however, Republican politicians started falling in line, reversing their previous contempt for insincere assurances that Trump is in fact the man to make America great again. What happened? Did all of these people suddenly change their minds, or did the political calculus simply demand support for the party’s nominee regardless of any personal principles?
Sen. Ted Cruz in particular stands out as an example. After Donald Trump viciously attacked his family and coined the nickname “Lyin’ Ted,” Cruz was one of Trump’s most devoted opponents. Today, we are treated to this meme of Cruz making phone calls on behalf of Trump, seemingly trading his integrity and family loyalty for his future political ambitions. Cruz is far from the only example.
As of last week, the winds have changed, and it is now viewed as more politically damaging to support someone who boasts about sexual assault than to oppose the party’s nominee. Those winds are causing political opportunists to scuttle back to the other side of the fence. It would be funny if it weren’t so depressing.
Paul Ryan is another good example. He initially refused to endorse Trump in the primary, but finally relented when Trump’s nomination become inevitable. This, in spite of the fact that Trump refused to help him in his own primary challenge. Ryan figured that supporting the Republican nominee would help him with the base.
Now that he has a Democratic opponent, however, support for Trump has become a liability, so he’s willing to ditch The Donald. Every move so far has been a result of political calculation, not of authentic support or opposition.
Is there anyone in Congress who values his integrity more than his congressional seat? If recent events are any guide, it seems a rare breed indeed.
It’s true that politicians are not the only ones who will compromise their ethics in order to keep their job. The difference is that most congressmen aren’t relying on those jobs to put food on the table. It is a relatively simple matter to transfer a political career to a lucrative private sector job, as evidenced by the huge number of ex-politicians who end up as K St. lobbyists. Many others entered politics after successful careers as attorneys or businessmen, and could return to those jobs if necessary. The willingness to opportunistically support or oppose a candidate based on what is popular at the time is not about preserving one’s livelihood, it’s about preserving the power and prestige that comes with a government office.
This is why people hate politics, and politicians in particular. Running for office essentially requires checking your principles at the door, succumbing to naked self-interest over any shred of integrity. The Trump Tape hasn’t changed anyone’s mind; it has only changed the political calculus.
This article originally appeared on Conservative Review.
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