Charles McC. Mathias, Jr. served in Congress from Maryland for 26, years, in the House for 3 terms beginning in 1961, three terms in the Senate, retiring at the end of the term in 1987. He was beloved, and probably could have held his seat indefinitely. At Haverford College we were proud to call him one of our own, and he was known throughout his career as thoughtful and hardworking. He was infamous for his personal frugality - he drove the same beat-up car for around 200,000 miles. And he never assumed his high elected office made him superior.
Mathias who has known McCain for many years, does not criticize him in any way. Rather he affirms his choice:
I believe that Obama's inspirational leadership, contemplative nature and well-reasoned, forward-looking policies offer our troubled nation a real opportunity to face and overcome its many challenges at home and abroad.
Please join me as I explore his endorsement, which appears in today's Washington Post under the title My Choice: Obama.
Mathias began his public career with two years in the Maryland General Assembly representing his home of Frederick before being elected to the House from the 6th Congressional District. He tells us of his family's long connection with the Republican party, including his own loyalty despite his personal moderate orientation:
In 1860, my great-grandfather ran for the Maryland Senate from Frederick on the anti-slavery Republican ticket. At the top of that ticket was Abraham Lincoln. In 1912, my grandfather rallied to Theodore Roosevelt and the Bull Moose. Most of the Mathias family has voted Republican ever since. In 1964, as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, I astounded many of my friends and supporters by voting for Barry Goldwater, despite disagreeing with many of his views and despite his lack of support in my congressional district. I publicly endorse the Democratic candidate for president with a sense of the historic significance of the choice before us all.
The reasons he offers for supporting Obama are affirmative. He tells us early on the framework in which he decides:
Sens. Obama and McCain have vastly different backgrounds and strikingly different visions of how America should navigate these tumultuous times. For me, the decision on who should be the next president transcends private friendship or political affiliation. My decision is based on the long-range needs of our country and which of these two candidates I feel is better suited to recharge America's economic health, restore its prestige abroad and inspire anew all people who cherish freedom and equality. For me, that person is Barack Obama.
Mac Mathias, as he chose to be called, was known for being thoughtful, and the endorsement reflects that characteristic. Consider how he begins to explore some of his rationale:
On an array of domestic issues, including health care, education, tax policy, the environment and alternative energy sources, Obama promises a clean break from the recent past and tangible hope for a return to fiscal responsibility, economic security and true environmental stewardship, all of which are essential to restoring our greatness.
He acknowledges the hope that Obama offers, and cautions that many will take his words as commitments that he will have to fulfill: that is how they will judge him. He commends his commitment to a new way in the Middle East, while strongly suggesting studying its history:
Obama must appreciate that he is not writing on an empty page and will need to be sensitive to that which has come before him.
He finds Obama "the better choice" to address the serious issues that challenge the health and well-being of our nation.
And he addresses race, something that given his period of service is something he takes seriously. Let me offer his penultimate paragraph:
Throughout my career in public office, I was involved in the effort to come to terms with our country's troubled history of race relations. I am proud to have helped enact several of the landmark civil rights laws that have been the cornerstones of our national response to the inequities perpetuated by racism. This is a moment in our national life that could scarcely have been contemplated at the beginning of my career, and one that I believe our country should savor. This election is a milestone in the journey of our society to greater openness and flexibility, qualities that will serve us well as we confront the global challenges of the 21st century.
It may be hard for some of you who are less than 50 to realize that without the help of moderate Republicans Lyndon Johnson's efforts to move Civil Rights forward would have been impossible. In 1964 (Civil Rights Act) and 1965 (Voting Rights Act and other legislation), Senate Democrats were dominated by Southerners who were quite prepared to filibuster any attempt at changing our national scandal of de jure segregation. Men like Russell and Stennis and Fulbright may have been notable for other things, but racial progress was not on their agenda. Mathias was one of a breed now almost totally extinct - moderate Republicans prepared to reach across the aisle to advance the good of our nation regardless of what the leadership of the Republican party or Republican presidents (Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan) might otherwise want. It is worth noting that Mathias' position on race was not necessarily all that popular in Frederick, which as recently as the 1990's had a very active KKK chapter. Mac Mathias was an exemplar of the best of our public servants in being unafraid of doing what he believed to be in our nation's best interest, regardless of the possible political costs.
This endorsement will of course not garner the attention of that of Colin Powell. It will not seem 'sexy' to many in the media precisely because he does NOT bash McCain. Mathias is of the mind of those who chose not to speak negatively unless absolutely necessary. He believes he can make the case for Obama without bashing McCain.
Perhaps his endorsement will not seem important. After all, his home state of Maryland is not in doubt, being heavily Democratic in registration. Yes, the editorial will be read by some in Northern Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, but many there will not recall his time in Congress: they may be too young, or are too new to the area. Or even if they were around, Mathias was a workhorse, not a show horse. He did not seek out attention, go on the Sunday morning shows, strive for national office, elective or appointive.
Yet there will be those for whom this endorsement will matter, if they know about it. He was that respected during his service.
And he represent a validation of something else: a white man who recognizes the importance of Obama's blackness. Let me repeat one sentence: This election is a milestone in the journey of our society to greater openness and flexibility, qualities that will serve us well as we confront the global challenges of the 21st century. Qualities that will serve us well, as many here also note the personal qualities of Obama that attract us: his calmness, his willingness to bring people together, his considered judgment in the midst of a crisis, his vision to look beyond the immediate to the longer term impact of decisions we will make. And yet, call it a 'reverse Bradley effect" (even as there never was a Bradley effect) - Mathias illustrates why for some whites Obama's blackness is precisely a reason to vote FOR him.
Despite our common Haverford background, I do not know Mac Mathias. I have a good friend who is Democratic but who willingly served on Mac's staff for many years. He was as generous and considerate as a boss as he was as a public servant. I think we can see that in the words he offers in support of Obama.
So let me end with his words, as he ends. And in advance, let me offer my usual final salutation:
Peace.
Mathias closes with this:
In these extraordinary times, Barack Obama has made a better case for why he is the right choice for president. He has earned my vote.