Letter writer: Politics, the art of compromise

Posted on by Letters
Graphic by Lori Deaton

Gentle Ones: So [Asheville City Council member] Cecil Bothwell says he voted for Hubert Humphrey — but Humphrey didn’t win, did he? How about George McGovern? He didn’t win, either. Walter Mondale? Ditto. “Clean Gene” McCarthy didn’t even win the nomination, nor did Jesse Jackson. Do you see a pattern here?

Bothwell’s response to Bernie [Sanders’] coming up short in the delegate count [switching his political affiliation from Democrat to unaffiliated] sounds childish to me: “If I can’t get my way, I’m gonna ruin it for everybody else!”

Even Bernie was smart enough to move from being an independent to running on the Democratic ticket. Join Bernie in the Independent Party, if you wish; no national elections will be won there, either. Bernie serves better in the Senate anyway, continuing to push leftward.

Remember that politics is the art of compromise, and the fact that that word is so reviled by many congressmen explains why nothing has advanced there. Will Bothwell be one of those, too?

— AA Lloyd
Asheville

Editor’s note: When contacted by Xpress, Bothwell offered the following response: “I wasn’t aware that voting for losing candidates is a blemish on one’s character. As for ‘ruining it for everyone else’ — it’s laughable to suggest I have that sort of power. If Sanders is not in the running, my next choice is Green Party candidate Jill Stein. I am all for compromise, and do so often, but am unable to compromise on the existential threat of climate change. Clinton has already renounced the carbon tax platform plank that her delegates approved in Orlando. Survival is more important than party loyalty.”

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2 thoughts on “Letter writer: Politics, the art of compromise”

  1. Lulz

    LOL, you mean compromise when the buffoon Pelosi stated the bill has to pass before knowing what’s in it lulz. No, politics is about lying, cheating, stealing. And democrats have clearly shown they have a good knack for doing it with precision. On top of simply not enforcing laws they don’t agree with yet expecting others to comply with laws they do. Or that the head of the party has to resign in disgrace because of being caught rigging the votes in favor of Clinton. LOL, and you fools of course ignore it.

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