Congress, Choose Who You Attack Carefully
By Thomas D. Segel (05/15/06)
Harlingen, Texas May 15, 2006: An Associated Press article by Katherine Shrader, dated May 9 is headlined "Bush’s CIA Nominee Faces Confirmation Fight".
The article was laced with comments by Democrat and Republican members of Congress such as California Congresswoman Jane Harman claiming General Michael Hayden had become part of ...“the White House spin machine”... and Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins calling on the general to retire from the Air Force before seeking his new appointment.
There was Oregon Democrat Senator Ron Wyden who said “In my mind, there is a question of how you can reconcile what he has said in the past about privacy and the NSA, with what is now on the public record about the program.”
Add to these comments by Georgia Republic Senator Saxby Chambliss who has called General Hayden’s military background troublesome, along with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter saying he would use the Hayden nomination to raise questions about the legality of the eavesdropping program and you have enough negative commentary to raise public ire.
What members of Congress seems to forget is that since 1989 the military service has remained the most admired institution in America. A huge 85% of Americans have confidence in the military graduating upward in that category from “some confidence” to “great confidence”.
Moving to the bottom of that March 7, 2006 Harris Poll is Congress, in which the public has a confidence level of 10%. This root-cellar level of confidence is shared by only one other 10% ranked institution - lawyers.
It should also be noted that most members of Congress hold both of those low esteem positions.
When we move from the institutional rankings to individual professions military officers remain at the top of opinion polls surveying attitudes about honesty and ethics. Along with nurses and pharmacists, military officers capture a 72% ranking.
Again there are few people who trust those who make their livelihood by pandering to the constituencies using public dollars. Members of Congress are once more in the barrel bottom pulling a 20% poll rating.
If we take time to examine the ten most respected jobs in the country, it can be seen that at the top is the doctor, followed by the soldier, the teacher, the firefighter, then the CEO, scientist, engineer, police officer, architect and accountant. There is no place on the list where you find Member of Congress.
The citizens of the United States respect those individuals who spend their working careers molding the future of children, saving lives, healing the sick, advancing civilization, fighting for our country, preserving freedom, serving others, accepting a lot of responsibility, keep companies and people together, risk their lives to help others, work with valor and courage, and are selfless. Those who serve in the armed forces can be matched with most of those categories. Members of Congress don’t make much impact on any of the attributes Americans admire.
So, here is a warning to those who plan to use the General Michael Hayden CIA Confirmation hearings for their own political advantage. They may be attacking the wrong brand of American. If that is how these hearings are perceived those senators could really enrage voters who keep them and their fellow politicos employed.
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