Holding Office Solely To Do As The Party Dictates

Why do people run for powerful federal offices?

I’m not talking about running for the local school board. Well-intentioned people run for school board for entirely logical reasons.

But why do people run for the Senate or the House of Representatives?

You would hope the answer is: “To do some good.”

I don’t believe it anymore (if I ever did).

Earlier this month, with the exception of Thomas Massie of Kentucky (who’s accustomed to primary challenges), every Republican voted in favor of a continuing resolution to fund the government. With the exception of Jared Golden of Maine, every Democrat voted against the continuing resolution.

I understand this: If you suggest that you might show some independence, the party pulls you into line. If you’re a Republican, the president calls and tells you to vote yes. Republicans tell you that if you vote no, Elon Musk will fund a primary challenger against you. You’re afraid that if you disobey Donald Trump, the MAGA right may physically threaten you and your family.

What’s a Member of Congress to do?

Vote as instructed, I suppose.

But, if all you’re going to do is whatever the party instructs, why do we need you in Congress?

I understand that you’re a nice person and all that, but why not elect a gerbil that always votes as instructed by the party? The gerbil does just as much good as you do, and it doesn’t eat as much at the House cafeteria.

If you really think that you can’t show any independence at all, don’t run for reelection. Perhaps we could replace you with someone who would help to govern America.

If the only reason you’re running is because the job is really cool, so therefore you should hold it, any thinking person despises you. Get out.

It’s the same with Cabinet offices. Marco Rubio was a Russia hawk for a long time. Rubio consistently denounced Putin, referring to him as “bloodthirsty,” “a butcher,” and “a monster,” while warning against trusting him in negotiations. During the confirmation hearing for Rex Tillerson to become secretary of state, Rubio asked Tillerson if Vladimir Putin was a war criminal, pressing Tillerson on various atrocities attributed to the Russian military and suspicious deaths of Putin’s opponents. Rubio expressed disappointment when Tillerson evaded his questions. After Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, Rubio urged the Biden administration to support Ukraine for “as long as they are willing to fight.” Rubio was a big supporter of the U.S. Agency for International Development, calling it “critical to our national security.”

Those days are gone.

Now that Rubio’s the secretary of state, he’s appeasing Putin, sitting by meekly while Trump and JD Vance berate Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, and applauding while Musk guts USAID. Why bother holding a Cabinet office?

I understand that everyone does this. Four years ago, Democrats were all over the lot on the question of health care, with candidates’ positions ranging from expanding Obamacare to “Medicare for all” to “Medicare for all who want it.” Some people who held competing views ended up on the Cabinet, and those people tailored their views to support the administration. But that seems a little different from having your position on key issues change from white to black just so you can hold a fancy job.

I understand that Rubio wants to keep his name in the mix as a possible Republican candidate for president in 2028. But he’s abandoning what appear to be his fundamental beliefs about foreign policy along the way.

Should we really elect you, Marco, who seemingly holds no permanent beliefs, just so you can hold a cool office?

Should you really sell your soul for the chance to run the country: “For Wales? Why [Marco], it profit a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world … but for Wales!”

Mark Herrmann spent 17 years as a partner at a leading international law firm and later oversaw litigation, compliance and employment matters at a large international company. He is the author of The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law and Drug and Device Product Liability Litigation Strategy (affiliate links). You can reach him by email at inhouse@abovethelaw.com.

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