Remembering John McCain

John McCain died on August 25, 2018.  He was 81 years old.  He has left an enduring legacy of courage, service, patriotism, and honor. His Congressional colleagues were quick to send out statements of condolence and praise for the Senator. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has even proposed legislation to rename the Russell office building in McCain’s honor. These are nice gestures, but if Congress really wanted to create an enduring legacy, they would actually enact legislation that Senator McCain championed for years. Two policy initiatives come to mind – universal national service and public financing of elections. Senator McCain tried in vain to enact both during his 38 year Congressional career. Congress now has the opportunity to pass these legislative initiatives to honor him and create a real and lasting legacy.

John McCain was all about public service. He graduated from Annapolis and became a fighter pilot. He was shot down during the Vietnam War and spent five years as a prisoner of war - two and a half of those years in solitary confinement. He also served 38 years in Congress - both in the House and the Senate. He realized the value of service to one’s country. That is why he advocated that every U.S. resident give the country at least one or two years of national service. This could be service in the military, or it could be helping with projects in such areas as education, healthcare, the environment, or disaster relief.   

Beyond strengthening America, this universal service could help bring our country together. We are a Nation that is divided economically, politically, and culturally. Universal service provides an opportunity for civic engagement. It requires participants, no matter how rich or poor, to look one another in the eye, engage in conversation, and find solutions to issues. Former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley said that Congress worked well in the post-World War II era because so many of members fought together during WW II. They had learned how to discuss issues and resolve them for the good of their units. During the Vietnam War, my military unit consisted of a gang member from Chicago, a back-country West Virginian, a couple of farm boys from the Midwest, and an American Indian among others. This motley group would rarely if ever meet in normal, everyday life. Yet we were thrown together and learned to communicate and accomplish goals. Because of that (and a little luck), we all survived – not an easy feat as an infantry unit in the Mekong Delta in 1969.   

Senator McCain also advocated for campaign finance reform. In 1989, McCain was involved in a “pay for play” scandal.  He was accused of being part of the Keating 5 – five Senators who were trying to influence bank regulators to curry favor for a corrupt Arizona bank. An investigation concluded that Senator McCain “exercised poor judgment”. It was a low point in his career, and one in which he was deeply ashamed. After that incident Senator McCain became a strong advocate for campaign finance reform. He partnered with then-Senator Russ Feingold to pass legislation in 2002 to prohibit candidates from raising soft money. Known as the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, the Legislation also required candidates to stand by their TV spots and political ads.  

In 2010, the Supreme Court negated much of the McCain-Feingold legislation in the decision Citizens United vs The Federal Election Commission. The ruling opened the door for corporations and wealthy individuals to give unlimited, anonymous contributions to candidates through organizations known as super PACs. In 2014, McCain, speaking at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University, stated “Right now we are at the height of corruption [in politics] thanks to the Supreme Court.” McCain understood that politicians have become obsessed with fund raising because of the high cost of campaigning. He also clearly understood the public perception that politicians were being bought and sold by special interests. Until his last days, he advocated for strict campaign finance laws to end what he perceived as a corrupt system.

These legislative initiatives may seem quaint and naïve in this era of divisive, winner take all politics. In some ways they are just that. Yet Senator McCain was a fighter for what he believed in, and he often appealed to our better angels. In one of his last speeches on the Senate floor in 2017, he appealed for compromise and actions for the good of our country. "I don't think any of us feels very proud of our incapacity. Merely preventing your political opponents from doing what they want isn't the most inspiring work. There's greater satisfaction in respecting our differences, but not letting them prevent agreements that don't require abandonment of core principles, agreements made in good faith that help improve lives and protect the American people." 

Statements of praise for the late Senator McCain have their place. But just for once, would it not be inspiring if our members of Congress could come together and enact legislation to honor his memory? Now that would be inspiration.          

Tom DeLoe is Vice Chair of Democracy for America and is a Gettysburg resident.    

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