Integrity: “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.” Sadly, not many politicians of either political party in the United States these days are often described by this particular word. But on this Wednesday after the last Super Tuesday of the primary season, I can point to at least three. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Mark Kirk of Illinois, and David Johnson of Iowa.
Lindsey Graham, the US Senator who failed in his bid for the Republican nomination this year, quickly denounced Donald Trump’s clearly racist criticism of the “Judge of Mexican heritage” who is presiding over the law suit concerning Trump “University.” Not only did this conservative, southern lawmaker call the comments what they are — racist — but declared his unwillingness to vote for Donald Trump in November. “I understand why others will still support the presumptive nominee,” he said, “But I just can’t.” Integrity.
A similar declaration was made by Republican Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois. Even though he is in the fight of his life for his Senate seat, Kirk said this, “Donald Trump’s latest statements, in context with past attacks on Hispanics, women and the disabled like me, make it certain that I cannot and will not support my party’s nominee for President regardless of the political impact on my candidacy or the Republican Party.” Integrity.
Iowa State GOP Senator David Johnson has actually suspended his membership in the Republican Party to protest “the racist remarks and judicial jihad” of Donald Trump. “I will not stand silent if the party of Lincoln and the end of slavery buckles under the racial bias of a bigot,” Johnson said on Tuesday. Integrity.
If these three men, elected legislators of a political party for which I have lost nearly all respect, are not examples of the noble quality of integrity, I don’t know who is these days. I hope none of them will have to pay the ultimate political price for their courage. Even more, I hope that they may hold out some hope that the leadership of a once-great Party can come to their senses before it is too late.
Perhaps uniting to change the rules and stop Trump, even now, from receiving the formal nomination of the Republican Party is too risky and likely to bring even more chaos into the system from Trump’s mindless supporters. But at the very least, these leaders should call Trump on his outrageous statements at every turn and seek to “hedge him in” with advisers who can try to steer him on to a saner and less dangerous course.
Even if this fails, these three men have shown that it is possible to speak and act with integrity in the midst of a political season which has shown far too little of it.
That We All May Be One 
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