Hamilton Cites “Lack of Respect” as Problem in Today’s Politics

In an article by National Public Radio reporter Alan Greenblatt, “The Public Respects Civility, But Rewards Rudeness,” Center on Congress Director Lee Hamilton offers his thoughts on the often-coarse nature of American political discourse.

An excerpt from the article: 

"Much of the politics we have today is strident and polarized and mean," says Lee Hamilton, a former Democratic House member who now runs the Center on Congress at Indiana University. "The fundamental problem, of course, is we do not show respect to those who are involved." 

Hamilton points out that while everyone pays lip service to the idea of civility, few will castigate a politician for being impolitic. Instead, the media always show some love for confrontation, while constituents may well reward a politician for taking an aggressive stance against another politician they don't like.

Hamilton cites Rep. Joe Wilson, the South Carolina Republican who was showered with millions in campaign contributions after yelling "You lie!" at Obama during a 2009 address to Congress.

"When you do show disrespect, when you yell out at the State of the Union or you shake your finger at the president, you get a lot of support," Hamilton says. "You raise a lot of money and get a lot of plaudits and emails for standing up." 

For the full text of the Greenblatt’s article, go to the NPR web site: http://npr/w9oenF