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Something Less Than Kander

[ Patrick Tuohey ]

Remember that guy?  He spent his political career wrapped in his military service, and even used the official kickoff of his presidential campaign to remind everyone that he was once a soldier.  Then, when people with whom he served started picking apart his military achievements, he whined about it.  He also lost his race.

There is nothing new about politicians running on their military records.  Our own state representative Jason Kander, pictured below, is quick to point out his own military service.  In fact, you can't get away from it.  He mentions it in his biography with at least two photos of him in combat gear.  He Tweets about it.  He puts it in his press releases.  News stories have focused on his deployments.

I recently wrote about a military award for which Kander was nominated.  The award is named for Strom Thurmond, a man most known for his long career in the US Senate and more specifically for his fierce opposition to desegregation.  I wondered if someone who has cast themselves as a purist progressive, who eschews lobbyist gifts of any kind and who worries about even the appearance of impropriety would dare permit his name to be linked with such a prominent segregationist.

Tony's Kansas City published Kander's response to my post:

"The award is entitled the Major General Thurmond award, not the Senator Thurmond award. It recognizes military service, not political philosophy, and I am honored to be considered for it."

Kander's response does not pass the laugh test.  Thurmond served as president of the Reserve Officers Association (ROA) from 1954 to 1955 when he resigned to run as a write-in candidate for the US Senate.  He won, and won every subsequent election until he died in 2003.  In 1956 he was responsible for the "Southern Manifesto" which opposed the Supreme Court's ruling on segregation.

The ROA's Strom Thurmond award was first given in 1978, 23 years after he headed the organization.  The ROA told me that for years Sen Thurmond was the "go to" person for reserve officer concerns.  In other words, the award was named for Thurmond because of his political service, not despite it.  Kander's suggestion to the contrary is ridiculous.

Kander may want--in this solitary circumstance--to separate his military career from his political career.  But that is crass political maneuvering from someone who has gone to great lengths to use his military service for political gain.

Frankly, I have no problem with any reserve officer accepting an award named for Thurmond.  In addition to his considerable military contribution (he landed at Normandy on D-Day), he was a strong advocate for the military.  As stated previously, he was also a prominent player in national politics.  I had the opportunity to meet the Senator at a function back in 1995--I had just finished reading a biography of John C. Calhoun and was eager to discuss with him South Carolina's political history.

But I find it incongruous for Kander to participate in honoring Thurmond because it runs counter to everything he professes to believe.  Thurmond was no friend to any of the political causes Kander embraces. Quite the opposite.

If Kander will not make a stand on principle in these rather comfortable circumstances--accepting an award--then how can anyone expect him to make a stand on principle when the situation is more difficult?

2/4/2010 9:32:18 AM

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