George H.W. Bush: A Tribute to a Model Statesman

Photo from New York Post

This piece was written by Senior Editor Jacob Whitfield

Labeling an individual a “politician” is borderline insulting. It implies the person is self-seeking, dishonest, and shady. That isn’t an unreasonable description for most “politicians” today. A title that has been lost in modern politics is “statesman”.  A statesman is the opposite of a politician, not motivated by the love of self but the love of country and by fellow countrymen, not dishonest but able to speak the truth, and not shady but of the highest moral character. Real statesmen, and stateswomen, are rare, both historically and presently.  

Our leaders should be men and women that we aspire to be. They shouldn’t be like us, they should be better. George H.W. Bush was better. George H.W. Bush was a statesman, not a politician. The most basic evidence of this was his priority of country over party. When he renounced his membership to the NRA and signed the Fair Labor Standards Amendments he looked beyond party. He sought peace for the world by creating an agreement with Russia to reduce nuclear arsenals. Finally, he displayed the highest moral character in her personal and public life.

It has become increasingly popular to support leaders that “look like us”. Donald Trump appealed to many because he harbored the same frustration with government, didn’t talk like a stiff politician, and broke the status quo.  We should expect more from our leaders. I remain hopeful that the party that nominated Bush, and the Country that elected him are not gone forever. Republicans can’t morn George H.W. Bush and celebrate the current Republican Party. They have a choice to either reject the present and seek to bring back what was or to embrace the present and reject what was. George H.W. Bush and Donald Trump do not belong in the same party.