By Al Cross
Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues
We live in a country where politics seems more polarized than ever, sometimes on a rural-urban divide, and the most divisive players on the left and right get most of the news-media attention. But there are plenty of Republicans and Democrats who pass up the chances to throw rhetorical red meat to their political bases, and U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, who represents Oklahoma's strongly Republican and relatively rural Fourth Congressional District, is one. That is made clear in a story in The New York Times by John Harwood, who accompanied Cole in the district during the August recess.
Harwood's story is headlined "A Different Way for Republicans to Handle Tea Party Seal," which is certainly a timely topic, but the same lessons apply to Democrats and their urban, liberal bases. The easy-talking, matter-of-fact Rep. John Yarmuth of Louisville, Harwood's hometown, is in some ways of mirror image to Cole, left, who comes across in Harwood's piece as a calming influence in a political system that is lurching from crisis to crisis.
Harwood writes that the energy in the Tea Party often makes it harder for Republicans to govern and to win general elections. "Some Republican politicians display an ability to absorb the heat and reflect it back in more politically promising directions," he reports. "That’s why 2016 presidential hopefuls and House leaders could learn from recent town meetings" held by Cole, who "challenged unhappy constituents on tactics, tone and spirit."
Three elements in Cole's approach stood out to Harwood: Realism, about the impracticality of shutting down the government to thwart health reform, and the smallness of foreign aid in the federal budget, for example; respect for liberal Democrats, in the face of constituents who consider their elections illegitimate; and optimism about the future of the nation: “I’m not one of these people who thinks the country is going to hell in a handbasket.” (Read more)
Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues
We live in a country where politics seems more polarized than ever, sometimes on a rural-urban divide, and the most divisive players on the left and right get most of the news-media attention. But there are plenty of Republicans and Democrats who pass up the chances to throw rhetorical red meat to their political bases, and U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, who represents Oklahoma's strongly Republican and relatively rural Fourth Congressional District, is one. That is made clear in a story in The New York Times by John Harwood, who accompanied Cole in the district during the August recess.
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| Rep. Tom Cole, in his district |
Harwood writes that the energy in the Tea Party often makes it harder for Republicans to govern and to win general elections. "Some Republican politicians display an ability to absorb the heat and reflect it back in more politically promising directions," he reports. "That’s why 2016 presidential hopefuls and House leaders could learn from recent town meetings" held by Cole, who "challenged unhappy constituents on tactics, tone and spirit."
Three elements in Cole's approach stood out to Harwood: Realism, about the impracticality of shutting down the government to thwart health reform, and the smallness of foreign aid in the federal budget, for example; respect for liberal Democrats, in the face of constituents who consider their elections illegitimate; and optimism about the future of the nation: “I’m not one of these people who thinks the country is going to hell in a handbasket.” (Read more)
1 comment:
good article. it might not have any effect but i wish it could be put in front of the eyes of all the right wing tea party ass kissing republican senators and congressmen.
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