Heretofore I would never have called Mitt Romney particularly courageous. He was pro-choice before he was pro-life; he helped created our MA health care law before disavowing the Affordable Care Act which was modeled on his own work; he praised Trump, then excoriated him; then seemed to hit him up for a job.
But in voting to convict the President, Romney has committed an act of actual political courage, and I think one that has real political meaning, even if it doesn’t change the immediate result. He deprived the President of a 100% party-line acquittal, which — whether justified or not — will change how it’s perceived both now and historically.
In his remarks, Romney repeatedly brings up his religious faith — that he himself stands in judgement by God for his actions. A lot of us are habitually repelled by public piety, because it is almost always hypocritical, self-aggrandizing and -justifying; God as a sock puppet to justify one’s priors. This is the shape of most right-wing fundamentalist religion in the US — it’s become an arm of a political movement/cultural identification, as opposed to the other way around.
But I’d suggest that there’s something quite real in Romney’s statement: fear and trembling, not before the judgment of his party; but before God’s. This is quite rare in American society, much less politics. Adam Schiff talked about moral courage in making his impeachment case; maybe it got through to Romney. Whatever the evidence, it is hard to break with one’s party; with one’s friends; with one’s own voters in Utah.
It reminds me of this passage from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, which I wrote about a few months ago:
But it is just at this point that we realize that the fool cannot be saved by education. What he needs is redemption. There is nothing else for it. Until then it is no earthly good trying to convince him by rational argument. In this state of affairs we can well understand why it is no use trying to find out what ‘the people’ really think, and why this question is also so superfluous for the man who thinks and acts responsibly. As the Bible says, ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’. In other words, the only cure for folly is spiritual redemption, for that alone can enable a man to live as a responsible person in the sight of God.
For the genuinely religious person, there is an external vantage point; an omniscience; a standard against which one is measured. No amount of rationalization will do; it’s not yours to make in any event. Indeed, we all need BS detectors, be they internal, external or eternal.
This time, Romney chose redemption over folly. May others follow his example.
fredrichlariccia says
“I sat silently across;, listening to my friend give one of the most important speeches I have had the good fortune to hear in person. At a time when many wonder what honor is left in public life, there stands Mitt Romney.” Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT)
fredrichlariccia says
“The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” Atticus Finch
terrymcginty says
It was his greatest moment. One the endlessly fascinating things about politics is its nearly infinite fluidity.
A few very short years from now, when the rats jump ship as it sinks, and the sheep scurry away together and sing in unison, “I was never a sheep!”, Romney may well form the core of the new Republican Party or its successor because of ths one vote, no matter how lonely that vote appears at present.
May Americans remember that the central value of Christianity is Christic redemption, not Calvinist worth.
scott12mass says
Or maybe Mitt was really just getting in a jab because Trump didn’t pick him for Sec of State, a job he was looking for. The results of the vote were readily apparent and only if he cast the deciding vote would it be of importance. If the voices from the imaginary people/person in the sky tells him how to vote and you didn’t agree with his vote you’d be all over him.
Oscars are for actors who get up and make us believe they really are the character they portray in a movie, maybe we need a political equivalent.
SomervilleTom says
I agree with you about most of this.
I am not ready to beatify Mr. Romney, just as I am similarly not ready to do the same for Mr. McCain. Mitt Romney has a long history of making abhorrent public statements and policies as both governor and candidate for President.
I feel strongly that religious beliefs are personal and should remain personal. I don’t mind seeing and hearing elected officials coming to and from whatever place of worship they attend if they do so. I don’t like hearing about what they heard or said inside. I don’t think the events that transpire inside a “prayer breakfast” are anybody’s business other than the attendees.
I don’t like to hear Nancy Pelosi making public statements about her prayers. I’m repelled by elected officials who cite their personal religious beliefs as a basis for pretty much ANY matter of public policy.
I’m reminded of an old Bavarian aphorism shared with me by my Austrian-born wife about the prescription for happiness. Translated, it goes like this:
If we seek a moment of courage to elevate, I suggest that the two votes of Doug Jones are FAR more exemplary than Mr. Romney. Doug Jones is running for re-election in a deeply red state (Alabama) in November.
Mr. Jones courageously and quietly did the right thing and is at great risk in November because of that.