A senior Washington Post congressional reporter found it “interesting” that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) told him that he answers to his constituents and the grassroots instead of the leaders in the Republican leadership who make up the permanent political class.
On Tuesday, Paul Kane said that in an interview in August, Cruz told him that every day in the Senate he tries to remember “to whom I am accountable; and it is not elected officials in Washington.” He also said, “with all respect,” it is not the mainstream media either.
“The people to whom I believe I am accountable are the men and women in Texas… who knocked on doors, who made phone calls, who stood up and said ‘Please, help turn this country around,'” Cruz, who is leading the defunding Obamacare efforts, told him.
And as it should be. Too often, we see the Humble Folk make promises, say the right things, and generally seem to be truthful when talking to:
- Supporters that inhale and internalize what they are saying – they want to believe “maybe this time” (as in “won’t change”).
- Voters pull their lever after internalizing the message, finding that it agrees with them – they want to believe “maybe this time” (as in “my vote WON”T be thrown away – again”)
but become “Smart People” once elected and enter the bubble of the Political Class. Yet, people are DESPERATE for, to see, and to believe in Consistency – both here in “the district” and what they see in where ever they go – be it Concord or DC. They want to Trust their representative will simply walk (and vote) the talk. While Cruz is not popular in DC (how MUCH info reached Fox News anchor Chris Wallace such that he felt to remark that “kneecapping” of Cruz was happening?), the base is seeing someone willing to fight for their beliefs, their stands,….for them.
Kane commented on Twitter that he found it “interesting” that Cruz “views people ‘who knocked on doors, made phone calls’ for him as who he answers to.”
Trust goes up the line when Trust goes down the line; very few politicos seem to understand this most simple concept and even fewer practice it. Leaders do, however, as it is how they become leaders in the first place. Their followers believe, and leaders show that they believe in those that support them. Yet, this journalist, Kane, seems utterly “taken” and lost in wonderment with this notion – that someone would forsake the Political Class and all of the trappings thereof to stay with the Common Folk.
One reason is “why ignore those trappings and the people that could set him up for life?”. The other seems to be “what, he’s gonna continue to dance with those that brung him”? Indeed – why outsource himself away from the powerbase that can actually vote for him? And all he has to do is something we Common Folk find rather easy – keep your promises.
(H/T: Big Journalism)
