Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, visited Prof. Larry Sabato’s introductory American Politics class yesterday afternoon. Collins, who focused on the need to change the tone of current political discourse, was first elected to the Senate in 1996 and is the Ranking Member and former Chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
The senator is known for her consistently moderate stance on most issues. Sabato introduced Collins as a “Jeffersonian Republican and a key, thoughtful, swing-voter in the Senate who had a ‘post-Tucson’ temperament years before Tucson happened.”
Collins said she came to speak about the lack of civility in politics and the threat it imposes on the well-being of our society.
“Tumult is inherent in our democracy,” Collins said. “The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave. There is, however, a great difference between waves of lively debate that propel ideas forward, and a tsunami of insult that destroys everything in its path.”
Collins expressed that during her 14 years in the Senate, the partisan divide has greatly deepened, partially because of changes in the media landscape.
“The 24-hour news cycle hardens political lines,” Collins said. “There used to be three networks, but people got their news from similar sources. They were not exposed to one narrow notion of news tailored to their specific political views. The result is members of congress with more extreme views having outlets for their rants.”
When the floor was opened to questions from students, second-year College student Aida Barnes asked if the senator believed there was a growing conservative movement in the Republican Party and whether it was cause for concern.
“I do think there is a growing strength of conservatives in the Republican Party, but it tends to be a pendulum that swings back and forth,” Collins said. “It does not worry me because I think we need to focus more on fiscal issues and the debt. The growth of conservatives is because there has been a lack of focus on those issues.”
Sabato said he found the senator’s visit relevant to recent events.
“Susan Collins is one of the most impressive members of the United States Senate, and everyone saw why this afternoon. She gave an exceptionally thoughtful and timely address on the need for civility in the wake of the Tucson tragedy. Students told me afterwards that they were very impressed with her honesty and forthrightness.”
Rebecca Rubin is an associate editor of The Cavalier Daily. She is a member of the Student Free Press Association.
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