A Campaign Code of Ethics

What Presidential candidates Clinton, McCain, and Obama should and should not do from now until November

by Bruce Weinstein, PhD

The campaign for the White House, which seems to have been going on forever, still has some months to run, and it's possible the nastiness, squabbling, and irrelevancies that have characterized this campaign—and too many before it—will get worse. This pettiness isn't just unpleasant or unfortunate; it's unethical, because it detracts from a meaningful debate about the issues that truly matter.

I therefore propose a code of ethics for the candidates to follow. Everyone—we citizens, the political parties, the democratic process, and the candidates themselves—will win if the candidates take this code. The proposed guidelines are rooted in the five fundamental principles of ethics: Do No Harm (BusinessWeek.com, 1/21/07), Make Things Better (BusinessWeek.com, 1/18/07), Respect Others (BusinessWeek.com, 1/31/07), Be Fair (BusinessWeek.com, 2/15/07), and Be Loving (BusinessWeek.com, 2/22/07). These principles are the bedrock not just of our democracy, but of all civilized societies, cultures, and religions. This code, therefore, makes sense not just for this election, but for all future ones as well.

1. Tell the truth. Warren Beatty's 1998 film Bulworth was a satire based on the apparently ridiculous idea that a candidate would suddenly decide to be completely honest. But why should this be the stuff of comedy and fiction? Shouldn't we demand honesty from the people who are vying for the most powerful political position in the country and, possibly, the world? Perhaps we're so accustomed to hearing distortions of the truth and politicians are so used to saying whatever it takes to get elected, that no one cares about the truth any longer.

But the truth still matters. When a candidate is asked a question and the public has a right to know the answer, the candidate should tell the truth. Period. If he or she doesn't have an answer, the candidate should be forthright about this fact. It is a sign of strength, not weakness, to admit that one doesn't always have all the answers at the ready.

2. Take responsibility. Senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain have each said things that weren't true. Whether these statements were based on faulty memory or the intent to mislead, voters rightly expect each candidate to take responsibility for his or her mistakes. Saying "I misspoke" does just the opposite.

3. Rise above the fray. Yes, the public should know about the blunders each candidate makes, but it's the media's job to inform, and the candidates should avoid the temptation to pile on or prolong the story. When a reporter asks for a comment on an opponent's latest gaffe, the candidate should refuse and instead focus on his or her proposed policies.

4. Criticize the argument, not the person. Personal attacks (BusinessWeek.com, 3/18/08) are not only disrespectful, but also self-defeating. Polls show that voters are fed up with negative campaigning. What people want is a clear and straightforward account of what the candidates are going to do about our flagging economy, a public school system in disrepair, the lack of affordable health care and insurance, a housing crisis that shows no signs of abating, and the other issues of real significance.

5. Listen. The energy that candidates devote to refining their message, giving speech after speech, and analyzing what the competition is doing will grow more intense as we get closer to Election Day. It is more important than ever that they do the opposite, too: listen. Not to what the pundits are saying, what the polls claim, what the campaign team suggests, or what the party is demanding, but to what citizens are saying.