Blessed are those who act to preserve the privileges of the rich, for they shall receive substantial campaign contributions.
Blessed are those who swallow back tears at strategic moments only to quickly compose themselves again, for they shall be regarded as having a sensitive side but still be seen as strong, thereby being judged more trustworthy by the electorate (unless they’re women, in which case they risk being seen as dangerously emotional).
Blessed are the aggressive, since negative campaigning has proven time and again to work even though the electorate complains about it.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for prestige and influence while pretending to care primarily about serving the public, for they will gain levels of political influence that those motivated more by a spirit of public service than ambition can only dream of.
Blessed are the merciless, because they’ll ruin the political credibility of their opponent before their opponent does the same to them.
Blessed are those who can look earnestly into the camera and sound really sincere as they say things like “God bless the United States of America,” for they will win the heartland.
Blessed are the warmongers, at least if they can properly time their war-related popularity surge to an election cycle.
Blessed are those who can spin their political opponent’s attack ads as persecution for righteousness’s sake, for they can engage in an underhanded attack on their political opponent while appearing as if they are standing against negative campaigning—thereby both enjoying the benefits of a negative campaign and enjoying the benefits of pandering to the public’s theoretic opposition to negative campaigns.
Blessed are those who, in moments of moral integrity, defy this cynical list of political beatitudes and act from a sense of authentic justice, compassion, or moral purpose—for although they might not get reelected, they may actually find true fullfilment in the lives they lead after leaving public office.
In my better moments, I have hope that the reality of political life isn't quite as dominated by this list of "beatitudes" as it seems to be in my more jaded moments. And in my truly inspired moments, I am filled with a spirit of compassion for every politician who finds herself buffeted by the demands and expectations of partisan politics, too often pressured to choose between her better impulses and what is politically "realistic."
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