On Monday, former U.S. Senate candidate from Virginia,
George Allen, uttered uplifting words, stating “I have no intention of running
for office again.”[1] On
November 6th, Allen was defeated for the open U.S. Senate seat in
Virginia by Democrat Tim Kaine.
Allen went on to state that he hasn’t decided what he’ll do
in the future. George Allen still has his consulting firm, George Allen
Strategies, LLC[2]
that his website concludes “is a recognized leader in helping clients navigate
the waters inside – and outside – the Beltway.”
And what muddy waters they are inside the Beltway, as
evidenced by the U.S. public’s approval of Congress[3],
which is why Virginians ultimately chose Tim Kaine to be their next U.S.
Senator.
Journalists, commentators, pundits, political amateurs and
professionals of all political stripes usually like to pick this or that
example or piece of evidence to argue the case for their candidate of choice or
to pick this or that example to denigrate political figures they don’t agree
with or like.
But the fact is, every politician, like every individual,
has acted in ways that some will perceive as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. There are no perfect politicians.
The more important distinction between George Allen and Tim
Kaine therefore is the latter’s genuine ability to cross political and
ideological bridges to find common ground for the good of all Americans and not
merely a select class.
Like him, love him, hate him, however you may feel about
George Allen, only the most tunneled-visioned of his supporters would not
consider Allen a polarizing politician, the type of politician that America
doesn’t need more of.
Maybe Virginians recognized this, if not in his statements
and demeanor, then in his divisive policies that do more to keep Virginians and
Americans apart then bring them together.
George Allen and other divisive politicians like him had
their chance and Americans spoke: it’s time to come together for the good of
the country.
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