Misunderestimated Consequences

It is not unusual for a person to say something that he will one day regret. We have cute ways of referring to the phenomenon. We talk about putting a foot in the mouth; we call it a slip of the tongue; we say the mouth started running before the brain was in gear. Politicians seem especially prone to this behavior. Supporters groan and detractors laugh at Joe Biden's frequent gaffes. It is hard to forget W's "misunderestimate," or Dan Quayle's trouble with potatoes (or is it potatos.)

There are times though, when a misspoken word seems to have been the product of wrong thinking. Sometimes entire strategies are built upon sands of shifting thought. George H. W. Bush could have saved himself much embarrassment had he done more thinking before promising, "No new taxes; read my lips." It doesn't take political genius to realize that absolutes are very difficult to deliver. Some politicians get so carried away by their own rhetoric that they promise to do the supernatural, such as lowering the sea level. Apparently there has been a decline of one quarter inch since Obama took over, but I doubt we can credit this to his presidency.

In the last couple weeks, candidates Perry and Gingrich have blasted Romney for his activities at Bain Capital, a private equity firm at which he worked. This line of attack seems ill advised to say the least. One of the most fundamental differences between Republicans and Democrats these days is their policy position vis a vis the free market capitalist system of economics. Conservatives have historically favored less government control over markets and increased freedom for individuals and corporations to make their own way. By contrast, today's progressive politicians are leaning toward a European style socialist model of a state controlled economy. In short, conservatives favor equal opportunity for individuals, while progressives prefer government enforced equal outcomes.

I know too well how easy it is to get caught up in the moment and say something without properly thinking of the consequences. Some years ago I made a judgmental remark to my son about his behavior (poorly choosing some crude language to boot,) and our relationship has never been the same since. My wife, whose memory is better than mine, could detail a regrettably long list of things I have said in haste or at least without thought. We are probably all guilty of this to some degree.

The difference with public figures is the scope of the consequences of ill-advised remarks. Now is not the time for Republicans to be siding with the Occupy movement and the Democrat party by feeding the fires of class envy. James says the tongue is a fire which sets our whole lives aflame. During this nomination process, candidates must be careful not to set the ship afire while vying for a chance to take control of the helm. If the result of that tactic ruins our chances of regaining the White House in November, I fear none of us will be laughing at the mistake.