Dancing With The Devil

     An old mentor said human organizations can develop an institutional self-interest that conflicts with their supposed purpose. Labor unions were among his examples, along with religious denominations. And of course political parties.
     In this presidential election year, I'm sure, he would cite the Republican Party for contemplating the nomination of Donald Trump. While time remains for leaders to join the few Republicans who've displayed a gag reflex, the possibility may be remote. Instead, key figures have placed party above country by endorsing Trump. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tops this list. Close behind is House Speaker Paul Ryan.
     Even supposing base motive, one struggles to understand their logic in embracing a walking, talking fraud.  And base motive is not an unfair supposition. As leader of an eight-year effort to undermine a duly elected president, McConnell has already shown he is impervious to shame. Ryan staged a brief flirtation with principle, then tried to camouflage travesty by weaseling an endorsement out of the side of his mouth.  To put the matter with utmost charity, these are not statesmen.
      Both had a chance to redeem themselves when Trump engaged in a prolonged racist rant against a jurist of Mexican descent. Both failed -- and did so in revealing fashion.  McConnell  objected, but not on principle. Rather, he worried that Trump would poison the GOP's relations with Latino voters. Ryan equivocated until the sheer vulgarity of Trump's behavior forced him to call it by name. The message in their behavior? Bigotry is acceptable if you can get away with it politically.
      Some experts speculate that McConnell and Ryan see things this way:  Opposing Trump would divide the party. This would discourage Republican voters and dampen turnout in the fall.  Poor turnout would weaken Republican candidates across the ticket and increase the chances of a Democratic sweep.  Thus the incentive to stand united, even behind the likes of Trump.
     If this is their thinking, they've disgraced themselves in hopes of short-term partisan gain. And disgrace of this sort is a long-term stain. They've attached their party's reputation -- and their own -- to one of the lowest figures in American political history.  As the 21st  Century electorate moves steadily toward diversity and inclusion, the GOP's leaders are embracing a man who is rabidly hostile to the very concept.
     I'm reminded of what another mentor said: People who behave foolishly are apt to be deemed fools. People who exercise power foolishly are apt to be deemed dangerous fools.