I don't tend to talk about politics - at least not about specific candidates - on my blog or in my classroom. One of my main reasons for this (I have several) is that as a teacher of philosophy, I am more interested in the ideas than in the people running for office.
The case of Kristi Noem - a Republican running for Congress in South Dakota - is one of those cases where it's difficult to separate the person from the ideas. I don't mean that she is inseparable from her politics. I am instead referring to her driving record.
Many people in my state feel that Noem's record has been subjected to enough scrutiny, and that it is just an example of her opponent, Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, playing dirty politics. The latter may be true (I don't pretend to know), but I don't think the former is true. I don't mean that we need to have a longer investigation of Noem's driving record. But I do wonder whether Republicans should be endorsing Noem at all.
It's not that Noem got caught speeding once. It's not even that she has been caught speeding 20 times. It's that her record of breaking the law is so long that it speaks of a strong disrespect for Law in general. None of us is perfect, but this record suggests that she's a habitual speeder. One recent ticket had her clocked at 96 mph (the state speed limit is 75 on highways.) Her actions say pretty loudly that she doesn't much care for the law. Not a good attribute for someone whose job it would be, if elected, to write the law.
Do we really want to endorse candidates who view the law as something to be obeyed by others but not by themselves? Isn't that precisely the opposite of the character we want in our legislators? (Or have I just been reading too much Plato?)
Addendum: A friend of mine points out that while the link above states it, I do not mention that Noem also has six times failed to appear in court; and she has twice had arrest warrants issued against her. I'm not just asking Republicans if they want this to be their public face; I'm asking all of us if we want this to be the profile our legislators. A state in which the legislators do not honor the law is a state in serious trouble.
Good to get your perspective on this.
ReplyDeleteNot that any of her violations are okay, but the six failure to appears and the 2 arrest warrants ON TOP OF the 20 speeding tickets absolutely floors me. If she thinks this is a non-issue than I am led to question her ability to legislate even more.
Her behavior is criminal, disappointing, and sad.
Right. "Scofflaw" and "legislator" should not describe the same person, at least not in a state that values the rule of law and the equality of all its citizens before the law.
ReplyDeleteThis is some very interesting information. It is alarming to think that someone with such a disrespect for the law intends to hold a position that is directly concerned with creating and upholding laws. While we can supposing her driving/court appearance habits are her sole discrepancies with the law, and understand that not one of us is perfect, sole fact she has such blemishes on her record are alarming. Could they perhaps be indicative of her attitude not only to the rules of our community, but also concern for the safety of local citizens? I certainly do not want my loved ones to be driving beside a speeding car. Thank you for this information, it is a great reminder of the importance of knowing the candidates one votes for.
ReplyDeleteThe Sioux Falls Argus Leader recently (December of 2012) ran an article about South Dakota's speeding laws. Apparently you can't lose your license for speeding in South Dakota, but you can lose it for driving too slowly.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.argusleader.com/article/20121225/NEWS/312250015/Speeders-may-risk-losing-their-license