“Good” is not the adjective that springs to mind when most people think about politicians. Unscrupulous, self-serving, incompetent, sure—but good? Not so much.
As our political landscape grows ever more polarized—and ordinary Americans feel increasingly alienated from the political process—the conventional wisdom seems to be that when it comes to elected officials, a good man is hard to find. As humorist Kin Hubbard once put it, “We’d all love to vote for the best man, but he’s never a candidate.”
At the Good Men Project Magazine, we want to believe that there are a few good men in politics. We need to believe it. So we spent the last few months looking for them.
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We looked for men with integrity and intellectual honesty.
We looked for men who respect their political opponents, treat their constituents like the adults they are, and promote openness and transparency in government.
We looked for men with compelling ideas—and the ability and vision to turn those ideas into action. Do we endorse everything they stand for? No. But we can respect those we disagree with.
We looked for men who can see beyond the next election cycle and who have the political courage to lay the foundation for America’s future success—even if it means making unpopular decisions today.
We looked for men who are willing to work in good faith with those from across the aisle in order to get things done.
We looked for men who are not afraid to challenge their party’s leadership when that leadership is putting politics and partisan mudslinging above what’s best for the country.
Most importantly, we looked for men who aren’t completely full of shit.
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Sadly, we didn’t find any. Just kidding. Believe it or not, there are actually more than 10 good men in politics. In list-making, as in politics, you can’t make everyone happy, so we had to exclude some worthy candidates from our Top 10 Good Politicians list. We also excluded many worthy women—we are the Good Men Project, after all.
While we don’t expect our list to restore your faith in America’s political system, we do hope to bring your attention to elected officials worth respecting for their integrity, their passion, and their ideas.
In addition to our list, we asked fifteen political thinkers, commentators, and journalists—including Cokie Roberts, David Brooks, Andrew Sullivan, John Podesta, Chris Wallace, Andrea Mitchell, Joan Walsh, Thomas Frank, and Jonathan Capehart—for their nomination of a “good man” in politics.
Disagree with them? Disagree with us? Or, better yet, agree with us? Let us know in the comments. Oh, and go vote on November 2.
The Top-10 Good Men Politicians
10) Mitch Daniels
8 ) Mark Strama
6) Jeff Flake
5) Al Franken
3) Cory Booker
2) Paul Ryan
1) Carl Levin
About the Editors
I read with pride as a dad the Tuesday October 12th, Boston Globe Op-ed article by Tom Matlack founder of the Good Men Project, “A Good Man for Governor.”
This article just highlights the importance of fathers and dads in kids and the candidate for Governors lives. Both the Governor and Charlie Baker seem to be loving dads. Charlie Baker said his father taught him the most about Manhood. For the Governor, it was his Grandfather.
Fathers, grandfathers, they all play a key role in shaping children’s lives. We know that if one has a dad in a child’s life, they are less likely to drop out of school, less likely to do drugs and alcohol, less likely to grow up violent and less likely to be suicidal.
So if we know all of these positive benefits, why have the candidates ignored the plight of fathers today. We are now sadly a nation of children raised without those fathers. 41% of all new births are to unwed mothers, most who will bring up these boys and girls without dads. Over 28% of our nations children are now raised without a father in the home, over 20 million children. No other nation comes close to ours for kids raised without dads in the home.
Governor Patrick has said he would sign a Shared Parenting bill, yet has failed to advocate for one. Charlie Baker says he does not support Shared Parenting for fit parents.
Bringing back fathers into kids lives takes leadership. I applaud the Good Men Project for working to bring back men, fathers and grandfathers back into kids lives. It will take a Village to get this right.
To give kids the opportunity that Charlie Baker had, and the Governor only partially had, will take work. This work to bring back father will involve passing Shared Parenting for fit parents to keep fit dads involved with kids lives and advocating for reform on the Federal level to remove those incentives that have demonized rather than supported fatherhood.
Dr. Peter G. Hill
Peter:
Well certainly part of being a good man, in my personal view, is being a good father and reflecting carefully on your own father. That’s why I ask the questions I do, over and over again, about fatherhood.
Thanks for continuing to shine a light on these important issues.
Tom
While I appreciate the importance of Black fathers being involved with the raising of their children, I would like to point out that millions of white fathers abandon their children either by leaving the family or by being so caught up in their work that they spend little time with their offspring. Increasingly, mothers are carrying the burden of raising their kids practically alone, to the detriment of both boys and girls. This problem does not apply only to people of color!
Correction: Feingold occupies the seat most recently held by Bob Kasten (R); Wellstone’s seat is currently held by Franken in Minnesota. The gentleman from Slate is getting his quirky Midwestern states mixed up.
Eric, you are correct. And that has been corrected. Chris Beam regrets the error.
I saw a documentary on Cory Booker from when he was running for mayor against a very corrupt opponent who had cast a seemingly Svengali-like trance over the citizens (of course, also paying many off and using horrible tactics against opponents – documented in the film). He seemed like a bright light with lots of good ideas and idealism – it is very nice to see that he has followed through with his intentions.
Hate to say it, Thomas, but your cred took a real beating when you included Ryan as a “good man”. You’re not old enough to remember that there was once a time when politicians of both sides of the aisle worked to make this a fairer, better country. Ryan and his Grover Norquist acolytes do not represent a different pathway toward that better, fairer world. To them, “let them eat cake” is a suitable, even noble philosophy. That you would include what can only be characterized as evil into the discussion (maybe to offer a “balanced” perspective) is not worthy of your good heart and your exceptional brain. That Ryan was included was a travesty; that Barney Frank was excluded appears to be moral intimidation.
And, yes, I use “evil” and I don’t offer it lightly. I grew up in the segregated South, so I can speak of political evil from first hand experience. That Reagan opened his 1980 presidential campaign in Philadelphia, Mississippi was the first sign that a certain group had sealed their pact with the devil. We’re paying for it now and we’re gonna be paying long after I’m dead. George Wallace garnered nearly 15% of the national vote in 1968 but everyone outside the South saw him as a racist and immoral man. Nowadays he’d be seen as a centrist.
I know that in your project you want and need to be seen as an apolitical animal. Fair enough. But, more now than in 1954, we need Joe Welch to utter his immortal plea, “have you no decency?” And somebody, probably somebody like you, has got to call evil exactly what it is. Ultimately, in my world, being a “good man” is standing up to bullies and not allowing evil to find purchase. And that always takes courage.
Thank you- I agree completely.
I have followed the good men project from the beginning on my RSS reader and I have been amused by some of their contributions, but when they try to tell me that Paul Ryan is a “good man”, then it’s clear to me that any definition this website has of a “good man” is useless.
It’s been fun.
I strongly disagree with Jeff Flake or as I call him, Jeff Fake. He was absent on a critical vote on cap and trade and he voted for censure of a really fine man, Joe Wilson. I am in Fake’s district and will not be voting for him as I emailed him on these two issues. I am sure he will win anyway, but he is not worthy of your good men list.
I’m willing to let Franken slide; I dug him as a comedian, and after the Republicans get control again it will be good to have him around for comic relief. But Sanders? This guy’s a bigger Commie than Gloria All-Red. Look, isn’t the Project based in Boston? What about Mitt Romney, my choice for prez notwithstanding his helmsmanship on the state’s health care debacle? Scott Brown’s probably too new for consideration, but thank you Massachusetts, for electing someone who, unlike Sanders, will “defeat the terrorists, not give them a trial in Manhattan.” Chris Christie should also be on the list, in the interest of economic sustainability. Anyway, I was wondering how long before the GM Project stepped into the political fray.
http://goodmenproject.com/2010/09/27/in-defense-of-sarah/
I don’t think you’ll find a politician (anywhere) who is less self-serving than Bernie Sanders. Tell me —have you followed his actions closely through his years in politics? I think not. But (after reading your post) it does appear that mud-slinging has become the SOP for more than just the politicians. Do everyone a favor and know what you’re talking about before you make more derogatory statements.
I never said he was self serving, I just said he was a communist, and he admits that.
Paul Ryan? The man who wants to cut every social safety net imaginable? And you’re calling him a good man? Unbelievable.
Aren’t these comments a sign of the exact opposite of what this project is trying to achieve. We take political grievances and politicize them. So Paul Ryan can’t possibly be a good man because we have policy disagreements with him. I don’t know Paul Ryan. Maybe he’s a jerk. But he doesn’t stop being a “good man” because I might disagree with him regarding how to balance the budget. Bernie Sanders isn’t a bad man because his politics are on the left. Again, maybe he’s a jerk. I don’t know. But that is a separate question from whether he is a good man or not.
I do take umbrage at Al Franken’s presence here. There are multiple instances of Franken being petty and mean (for example, when at a college event he made fun of a student’s speech impediment because the student had committed the sin of being a Republican).
RE: “So Paul Ryan can’t possibly be a good man because we have policy disagreements with him.”
When the policy we’re disagreeing on limits my liberty to get married, to adopt children, and in general infringes directly on my personal freedoms, then he is not a good man.
Great piece, Tom. I’m looking forward to learning about the character and principles of men with whom I do not agree. I won’t quibble about your choices based on partisan choices.
Years ago when I was a Republican (before I grew out of it), I supported a man who was both governor of and senator from Washington state, Dan Evans. He is the very picture of a principled man who is also a politician. He has led a life of thoughtful and committed service to both his state and his nation, and even though my party affiliation has changed and his has not, I would vote for him again in a moment given the opportunity. I trust him to try his hardest to do what is best rather than flap in the breeze of the nasty sort of partisan rhetoric that has come to dominate our political dialog.
I’m surprised that Mitchell and Roberts picked Republican Richard Lugar. I figured both of these women were progressives. Their choice is too fishy. I think they’re politicking and trying to give the impression that they’re neutral. So I regard this as a weasel choice.
In earlier years, they would both have probably chosen John McCain. Liberal jounalists tend to support men who are wishy-washy conservative politicians. It adds to their credibility, but they would not actually vote for the man if they had a liberal on the ballot.
I believe that.
Including Al Franken on this list pretty much invalidates the rest of the list as Al fails miserably at most of the criteria.
Far from being respectful and trying to work with his political opposites, he belittles them every time he is left in charge of the house.
Being from Michigan, I concur with putting Carl Levin on top of the list for being a good man.
However, he has a completely undistinguished legislative record and basically has taken up space for several decades. Additionally, Michigan has been on of the top 2 tax donor states during Carl’s entire tenure leading to the draining of billions of dollars from Michigan with nothing to show for it.
I’m glad someone thinks as highly of Carl Levin as I do. I am proud of my Michigan senators. They have consistently shown themselves to be team players, not trying to screw over others for their own benefit.
Carl Levin fights for what he believes is right and practicable, and that’s what I want in a representative. He also gives a very well reasoned speech. It’s nice (and a very odd feeling) to have someone Michigan can be proud of.
How can Paul Ryan possibly be considered a Good Man when he actively encourages prejudice against gay men and women? He cares not for anyone who is not an extreme right wing evangelical Christian and the right of corporations over the good of his fellowman. By no definition, is this man a Good Man.
nonsense
Goodmen Project:
put me on local fox about the growing problem of gender bias in the courts, children are being hurt an destroyed because the system wont listen to good men and women are over protected ….
Dennis Kucinich – Good Guy
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????!!!!! I can’t imagine what your criteria could be but as a citizen in Jeff Flake’s district I can tell you that he DOES NOT meet my definition of a good man. This man could not care less about his district! In the time I’ve lived in AZ I’ve never heard from him, despite my repeatedly contacting his office. When I complained to his office that he never acknowledges my comments I got a form letter. He has done nothing, and I mean NOTHING for this district. He serves only his corporate overlords. He is in every sense of the word a bad man.
If you want to honor a great man who has worked diligently for decades to serve the people, even sacrificing his own career to protect the people of Cleveland, you need to meet Dennis Kucinich.
Jeff Flake? Please!
I was about to leave the same post almost word for word! I live in his district and he only serves one thing… his agenda and his religious beliefs…
I’m shocked – in fact I laughed out loud when I saw his name on this list!!
Where is Dennis Kucinich?
No Dennis Kucinich? One of the few who is unbiased…and does not need a speechwriter because he speaks from the heart!
With some of your pollsters, I am surprised Bush/Cheney et al are not on te list!
I love what you’re doing, and needless to say, as a Vermonter I like the Bernie choice. For future consideration, take a look at our current governor, Jim Douglas, who despite being a Republican – is a good man. But my main point……….. you are totally out of your tiny liberal mind to not include our president on your list. I won’t even bother to enumerate, you must have a brain somewhere in there.
Why not Dennis Kucinich? I am suprised, also.
kucinich sold out true progressives by compromising and going back on his word by signing that atrocity of a health care “reform”.