Blatant corruption starts with small compromises of integrity
We notice the obvious instances, but not the more subtle cases that make the worst ones possible.
Published August 6, 2026
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. —Ephesians 5:11On July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham died. Discourse after his death focused on how Senator Graham had been a clear-minded, firm opponent of Donald Trump in 2016 but was a reliable Trump supporter by 2025.
The behavior exhibited by former Trump critics such as Graham, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears to many as a classic instance of placing expediency and career advancement over integrity. You can read many other people’s opinions of their evolution into Trump supporters, so I will do something different. I will try to shed light on how politicians start down the path of justifying corruption.
I was press secretary for a congressional campaign in 1990. After my candidate, Rick Santorum, won the election, he went to Washington for new member orientation. He commented afterwards, “The first thing they told us was that you can’t get anything done here unless you get reelected. No wonder members of Congress are constantly thinking about their next election.”
If your primary focus is on getting reelected, then you will do what is necessary to get reelected—even things that are not honorable.
Many years later, a nonprofit organization on which I served as a board member was unhappy with one of our legislators. We thought he supported our goals, but then he voted against us. I was assigned to contact the legislator and ask what had happened.
Many years later, a nonprofit organization on which I served as a board member was unhappy with one of our legislators. We thought he supported our goals, but then he voted against us. I was assigned to contact the legislator and ask what had happened.
