Where Have All the Statesmen Gone?

To The Editor:
A friend recently asked, “Where have all the statesmen gone?” I replied, “Define statesman.” He returned, “Someone with a profound knowledge and understanding of history and a willingness to sacrifice themselves (politically) for the good of the country.” He actually said, “…for the greater good.” But I don’t use that term because politicians love it to explain why they are usurping our freedoms in the name of social justice and votes. I checked to see what Webster says. Of the two definitions I like this one best.
Statesman: One who exercises political leadership wisely and without narrow partisanship. Let’s see. Knowledge and understanding of history, willing to sacrifice oneself for the good of the country while exercising political leadership wisely without narrow partisanship. Looking at the current crop of seat-holders and candidates populating our elite political class, in light of the above, it is easy to see why we have few if any statesmen. It’s as though our political system has made them virtually extinct.
But that’s not enough. As a statesman, a political leader has to be skillful at politics too so as to navigate the gator-filled waters of the swamp wherein he or she dwells. Examples: Newt Gingrich is a PhD. historian, but a political grenade-thrower who bugs his own party members. Winston Churchill, possibly the quintessential statesman, was not believed to be an adept politician. Thus after all he did for Britain and the allied WWII effort, he was rewarded afterward by the loss of his prime minister’s post. But it isn’t enough to be just smart, politically astute and agile or even articulate and charming which describes our current president. There must be substance, experience, knowledge and most of all, that rarest of qualities in modern politicians, wisdom. As for the willingness to take political job-threatening risks, few are so disposed. Do not confuse risk-taking with pragmatism. Our man in the White House is such a political pragmatist. I suspect his foot-dragging OK of the surge in Afghanistan and yes, even the end of bin Laden, may have been carefully thought-out political calculations to inoculate himself against GOP claims he is soft on national defense.
Will a statesman emerge from the current political combat cycle?
Doubtful. And should President Obama prevail for a second term, don’t expect his metamorphosis into statesman. With almost 18 months before the election, we might use this time for some introspection about why we vote the way we do and for whom.
Are we encouraging statesmanship or the making of career politicians whose main motivation is not the good of the nation but political power and personal position?
ROBERT LOVELL
Court House