Startin Something: On Candidate Disclosure of Personal Issues

W. Lane Startin with the current scandal going on has posted a dossier of unflattering information about himself:

-I have ongoing struggles with depression. In 1998 I checked myself into a clinic in Philadelphia for it for about three days, but left of my own accord. I have been on antidepressants (currently Effexor) for some time.

-When I was younger I tried – and inhaled – marijuana on several occasions, the last time about eight years ago.

-Also while living in Philadelphia I sent a proposal to Pat Takasugi, then the head of the Idaho Department of Agriculture, proposing an agricultural exchange between Idaho and Germany. In a later communication I implied that I could procure private financing to help defray the state’s costs. Soon after I found out that the proposed financiers were, um, shall we say less than credible. Needless to say, nothing came of the plan.

-I didn’t vote in 2000. My registration was messed up and I didn’t get around to fixing it until after the fact. I haven’t missed an election since.

Nothing in here is too startling. Only the smoking pot is illegal and even then the Statute of Limitations has already expired. All could come up in a serious campaign for office. If Startin starts to gain ground in the Idaho Democratic Gubenatorial Primary in 2010, he may have successfully muted several days of media coverage.

The pot smoking while not commendable has been experimented with by a wide variety of folks. We all know someone whose experienced depression.

Of course, for those with far more checkered youths (or not so youthful experiences) may be a little less likely to come forward and admit to involvement in some of the things college students do these days: various types of sexual experimentation, hard drugs, pornography, drunkedness. There are many people who have tried homosexual relations than continued it onto college. Should an illegitimate child given up for adoption when a potential candidate is 19 really be a matter that is shared with the public? What about speeding tickets?

Should a candidate for office bare all his errors in public? Gerry Spence proposed that a candidate for public office mail his opponent a letter containing all of his personal foibles with a match with which to burn the letter, and offering to receive a similar letter from his opponent. If the opponent goes public with the letter, they’re far less likely to think ill of the candidate than his opponent, at least according to Spence.  But I’d say trusting an adversary is too great a leap of faith in human nature.

Still others point to the fact that few people want to reveal a past they’re not proud of to millions of strangers. Indeed, that’s why a lot of good people don’t run for public office, because they’ve had some wild times in their younger days and would rather not put their family and friends through a nightmare of public revelations.

Also, too many confessions turns our political process into the Maury Povich show. “Next on Maury, this gubenatorial candidate has something shocking to tell his voters.”

When asked what his biggest mistake was during the 2000 Presidential campaign, Alan Keyes received a standing ovation when he told the reporter: “You know, in hearing that question, I think about the biggest mistake I might make as an adult would be to treat that as if it’s a question that is appropriate to be asked…” He then went on to say, “I think that we have to understand that there ought to be in our public life a certain decorum, a certain dignity. There are things that I’ll tell my priest in the confessional that I will not tell you or any other American.”

Other methods include the general confession. Bill Clinton admitted he was a “sinner.” A term that’s obviously true, but vague on detials. Dozens of books later, we have a ton of details and not a few unproven rumor. 

How should politicians address the issue?

First, I think people have to take an honest look at their own character. Is there anything you’ve done in the past decade that reveals serious flaws in character? It requires some honest self-examination. Should you run for office when you were cheating on your wife or husband last year? I don’t think so.  Even, if you’ve made things right, you need to be focusing on your marriage and your character not glad-handing for votes. 

Second, if there’s a criminal case of any sort in your past, disclose it. Perhaps, not immediately, but within a couple weeks of announcing. This type of thing will come out and smaller offenses like speeding, DUI, etc. are going to be easily forgiven if you tell the story, rather than having spin doctors set the story in motion as happened with George W. Bush in the 2000 campaign with a then-24 year old DUI.

Third, explain any condition which on its face might cause people to doubt your ability to serve, such as Alcoholism, Depression, etc. When these things come out in the media, it’s the nastiest of smears because the reality of people’s current condition isn’t shared, rather someone who has been alcohol free for fifteen years is imagined as a roaring drunk, and someone with a history of depression that’s under control is pictured as someone ready to blow his head off any day.

Third, issue a general statement admitting your human fraility and that you’ve made errors. I might say:

In running for this office, I’m going to do my level best to stand up for what’s right. However, I should be honest that as a human being, I have a fallen nature, and I’ve made mistakes just like everyone else.  

Beyond that, tell God, tell your minister, but don’t give us a full dossier of every mistake you’ve ever made. It’s more than we need to know.