The following is presented as part of The Columbian’s Opinion content, which offers a point of view in order to provoke thought and debate of civic issues. Opinions represent the viewpoint of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus opinion of The Columbian’s editorial board, which operates independently of the news department.
I don’t think Jaime Herrera Beutler is part of the problem — which likely means that I am part of the problem.
You see, Herrera Beutler, a Republican from Camas, is running for her third term as representative from Washington’s 3rd Congressional District. And, considering that she hasn’t been seen kicking any puppies or wearing any Nazi uniforms, the odds are that she is going to win. (Repeat, she has not been seen doing this things; let’s be careful about starting any rumors).
This is not meant as a commentary on Herrera Beutler’s opponent, Bob Dingethal, D-Ridgefield. But it is meant as a reflection on the fact that Herrera Beutler received 49 percent of the vote in the August primary while Dingethal received 38 percent. Michael Delavar, a Republican who ran to the right of Herrera Beutler, received 13 percent of the vote, and the guess is that Delavar’s supporters are either going to vote for Herrera Beutler or stay home on Election Day. At the risk of being presumptuous, let’s just say that Delavar’s supporters would probably prefer to gouge their eyes with a pencil than vote for Dingethal.
Not that we need such insightful analysis of the primary results to conclude that Herrera Beutler is going to be re-elected. No, we probably could do that without even knowing the candidates or their parties or their positions — because getting re-elected is what incumbents do.
Even with approval ratings for Congress at historic lows. Even with Congress about as popular as twerking. Even with frustration among voters at all-time highs, people tend to vote for their sitting congressperson. As David Harsanyi wrote for Reason.com: “That doesn’t mean the anger isn’t real. It doesn’t mean that the distrust won’t grow. And it doesn’t mean there won’t be change. It just means we rarely, if ever, blame our own.”
Therein lies the crux of the problem. As of June, The Washington Post reported, congressional approval ratings had hit an all-time low 12 times since 2010. And yet, history tells us that some 90 percent of incumbents will be re-elected to the House of Representatives. That was the rate in 2012, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, and even that was one of the lowest percentages in the past three decades. Remember the Republican Revolution of 1994? Well, that sea change saw the re-election of 90 percent of the House — and 92 percent of the senators who were running.
Revolutions, apparently, are mild in this country. As Harsanyi wrote, “Americans are less apt to renew their cellphone plans, credit cards, and gym memberships than they are to re-elect their politicians.”
A look at human nature
That represents an interesting fact of human nature. Sure, incumbents have huge advantages in fundraising and name recognition, but there is something about a reluctance to vote out representatives that speaks to our fear of change. Our fear of altering the status quo. Our tendency to say, “Well, Congress stinks, but my representative is OK.”
Which brings us back to Herrera Beutler and whether or not she is part of the problem. I don’t think she is. I think she is engaging enough, and I find her to be somebody who genuinely attempts to see both sides of the issue — perhaps to a fault. Some constituents claim she clings to the party line, although the record disputes that; others claim she is a Republican In Name Only, although the record disputes that. And the fact that she angered some by criticizing Republicans for shutting down the federal government scores big points in my book.
Dingethal, meanwhile, is extremely sharp and has well-considered positions. As Joel Connelly of the Seattle PI wrote, “Dingethal is the highest quality House challenger either party has recruited this year.”
But Herrera Beutler is almost certain to be re-elected. Nearly all of her fellow representatives are almost certain to be re-elected. Public exasperation with Congress is almost certain to continue.
All of which means that the problem really lies with us.
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