Hogan will bring principles and compromise to Senate | GUEST COMMENTARY
Colin Pascal
The Baltimore Sun
July 12, 2024
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Twenty years of service in the Army conditioned me to think about the nation and the well-being of others before I ever considered myself. With this in mind, and with a reverence for what public service should be, I’ve become increasingly disappointed by the condition of our politics. Our culture rewards political leaders who enjoy personal attention rather than the quieter satisfaction that comes from accomplishing something for the national good.
I believe in the idea that leaders should seek office to serve the American people and pursue high ideals, not seek office for its own sake. In former Gov. Larry Hogan, I found a Senate candidate wholly compatible with those values instilled in me during military service. I found a leader willing to stand up to the pressure of his own party just as readily as he stood up to the pressure of his political opponents.
I learned an important lesson from my time in the Army: Do what you think is right, even when it’s unpopular or hard. But the Army also taught me that firmness absent practicality can quickly devolve into unproductive stubbornness. In Hogan I found a leader whose firmness is tempered by a willingness to compromise with reasonable people in pursuit of important goals. I found a leader who understands that achieving some important priorities while compromising is almost always preferable to stubbornly achieving none.
Hogan refuses to demonize his fellow citizens, even those with whom he strongly disagrees. This resonated deeply with me as a veteran who served to protect all Americans, not just those who share my political beliefs. In the Army, I saw people of every background work together to solve hard problems. I am a registered Democrat, but I deployed alongside both Democrats and Republicans. The vitriol coming from our political leaders about their opposing party contrasts starkly with my own experience in the Army. I find it deeply disturbing as someone who respects plurality and believes in the goodness of Americans. Hogan has set an example for us and for our children on how to respectfully disagree.
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In Hogan I see a leader committed to national unity at a time of national discord who is willing to work with any American who might help him address pressing problems. I see a leader my children can watch on the news without worrying he might say something dishonest or mean-spirited that I’ll struggle to explain later. As a veteran, I see in him the type of leader my years in the service taught me to respect: he embodies thoughtfulness, political courage and firm conviction coupled with a willingness to compromise. These traits are rare in our political environment. They are also exactly what we need to move forward in this difficult time.
Colin Pascal is a retired lieutenant colonel and member of the Veterans for Hogan coalition. He lives in Annapolis.
Click here to learn more about Hogan for Maryland’s Veterans for Hogan Coalition.
