What an adult would say

Keith

January 30

I tend to read what the former president says because watching him speak the way he does is disconcerting. Seeing a wannabe leader name call, label, lie, bully, et al is not a recipe for the attributes of who I want in charge.

Unfortunately, too many believe what he says as gospel when the opposite would be more accurate. And worse, his more strident followers act on his threats and finger pointing at critics using tactics an adolescent bully might use.

What would an adult say when he sees these actions? He or she might say people, it is OK to disagree with someone, but don't be disagreeable. It is not OK to threaten or conduct violence, swat people, or bully people. Full stop.

I am reminded of Senator John McCain stopping a woman at political rally in 2008 as she spoke very negatively of his opponent Barack Obama. McCain said something like ma'am, I know Barack Obama. He is a fine man, a good father and a capable public servant. I use McCain's push back as it is an exemplar. Here is a man who fought for his country and was a POW speaking out for what he fought far.

When alive, McCain was the antithesis of the most recent former president. The latter has consistently ridiculed McCain for being captured, for voting his conscience, and disagreeing with him. McCain also wrote an op -Ed piece calling Trump's actions in Helsinki when he sided with Putin over his own intelligence people as "traitorous."

McCain was not perfect, but he was a fine man and good public servant. He was friends and worked with Democrats, Independents and Republicans, in particular Lindsey Graham, Joe Biden and Joe Lieberman. Kudos were also given to McCain for helping establish commerce with Vietnam years after the war. Mind you, McCain was captured by the Vietnamese. That speaks volumes.

These are the actions of an adult. These are actions that we need to emulate. We need more of adults in leadership acting in this manner. We need fewer acting like the Queen of Hearts in the animated "Alice and Wonderland" as the former president is prone to do.