Duncan and Margaret Hunter are not the first political family to betray the public’s trust – they are certainly not the first family to make a huge, costly mistake that has had widespread repercussions. In fact, many of us cannot exclude ourselves from that latter category. To err is human, afterall.
The ongoing investigation into the alleged misuse of campaign funds by the Hunters has been an issue of controversy and embarrassment for our corner of San Diego.
Duncan D. Hunter (R–Alpine) is California’s 50th district representative in Washington where he has served since 2009.
The indictment that came out last year, shortly before the November elections, accused the Hunters of spending thousands of dollars of designated campaign funds on personal expenses – everything from video games, golf and plane tickets to dance recitals and family vacations.
There is no doubt that, if proven true, this situation is shameful and humiliating for the Hunters and the district they represent.
What a slap in the face.
Last week, Margaret Hunter accepted a plea agreement to cooperate in the case against her husband.
Some are accusing her of betraying her husband. Others have pointed out that her husband threw her under the bus on their first day in court.
Not only have the Hunters trampled on the public trust, they have been a poor example of how a husband and wife should behave.
Republicans have not behaved much better.
Despite the overwhelming accusations against the Hunters, East County voters still chose to put him in office over Ammar Campa-Najjar, who lost by a margin of some three points.
I hope everybody’s happy now.
Some in East County have jumped to the Hunters’ defense, claiming the indictment to be a political attack. Some have argued that he is innocent until proven guilty (which is technically true, and I support that ideal). Some have become so embittered by a national battle between conservative and liberal values that they are defending a man who is, perhaps, not as worthy of our righteous indignation as we would hope he is.
By his own actions, Hunter does not seem to value either integrity or family – both of which are supposed to be crowning conservative principles.
Let me say this once: to fall on one’s sword for the party is to do a disservice to the nation. Let reason bring us by the hand back to the center of the aisle where our values are waiting for us to take responsible action.
There are others in East County who hold the Hunter’s breach of public trust and the national spotlight of shame they have thrust our community into in much higher contempt.
(For once, it would be nice to get some national attention for one of our possitive qualities – can we make that a 2020 goal?)
And here is where I would like to take the most of your time, because this is a great teaching moment for us. It should be a lesson in humility and a reminder of our own brokenness.
When politicians screw up in the limelight, they very rarely recover (unless you are Bill Clinton or our current president). When confronted with scandal, our elected officials step down or are excused in shame and ridicule (usually deserved).
But then what? They have to return to the neighborhoods they once represented and continue living, this time with a big, scarlet letter on their chests. They have to repair marriages and restore trust in their relationships. Some face greivious financial situations – yes, all brought about by their own making.
But let us say for a moment that these politicians were convicts coming out of prison, back to familiar streets and sidewalks. We have programs for those members of our society, once shamed and now starting over. We root for them. We hope they succeed and change and inspire others to do the same.
That is what we wish for those in our communities who struggle with addiction.
That is what we wish – and actively promote – for the kids who drop out of high school and find themselves homeless and lost.
It should be our hope for every man, woman and child who lives in our community. They are ours. They are one of us. And our mindset should not be of lofty judgment, but of empathy and understanding – a hard task when we feel we have been personally victimized by their actions, but no less important.
If, as a society, we can forgive those who have broken the law in our streets and offer them a second chance, can we not do the same for those who have broken the public trust?
I am not suggesting that a second chance for the Hunters should be anywhere in office, of course. And I do expect them to be held accountable to the full extent of the law.
But when they return to our community, how we receive them will effectually say more about who we are than about what they’ve done.
What kind of community will East County choose to be? Are we one that offers the fallen, broken people in our lives the opportunity to begin again? Do we help them repair and heal and mend and begin again, improved and wiser? They are one of us, afterall.
I hope so.
I hope the Hunters are able to move beyond this – whatever this ends up being. I hope they will be better people for it. I hope we will give them – and each other – that chance.
