COMMENTARY | TAMPA, Fla. -- On its politics page, NBC News defines Monday night's Republican presidential debate with the terminology of old Hollywood Westerns. In the description, the meeting between dueling frontrunners Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich is called a "showdown" that set "a combative tone" leading up to Florida's Jan. 31 primary.
Like two grizzled gunslingers of old meeting at sundown, both candidates came ready to spar, with Romney leading the offense. While it made for interesting television, the majority of the debate seemed designed to make headlines out of the two men's rivalry rather than shed light on what they -- or for that matter, the much-ignored Rick Santorum and Ron Paul -- would do for the country once in office.
The evening was more fight-to-the-death than a discussion about policies for the future. While Romney and Gingrich battled for their party's nomination, two days earlier, a different politician gracefully bowed out of her congressional seat, reminding us all of what maturity looks like in the political world.
'We can change things for the better'
"I know on the issues we fought for, we can change things for the better," said Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords as she stared confidently into the camera. This is from "A Message from Gabby," a Youtube video released on Sunday by Giffords' office announcing the Congresswoman's decision to step down from office to focus on her continued recovery following last year's tragic Tucson, Arizona shooting.
Watching Giffords' video, with the representative facing the camera, speech halting, yet looking strong and assured, it was hard not to stare on disapprovingly two days later at the mud-slinging both onstage and off leading to the Florida primary. In an age of Super PACs and politicians who will do anything in order to gain more votes, Giffords reminded all of us what real leadership is.
"I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice," Giffords said, "to do what is best for Arizona, I will step down this week." Absent was the language of self-aggrandizement. What was in its place? Humility, for one. Giffords stressed that she was elected as her people's voice, and while she would step down, she would not stop believing in and supporting the policies that got her elected in the first place. In light of the puffed-up posturing seen by many candidates in an election year, it was nice to be reminded that politicians are elected to help their constituents and not look out primarily for their own self-interest.
Unfinished business
Before she officially left office on Monday, Giffords still had one piece of unfinished business to attend to. She returned to her office to finish the "Congress on Your Corner" event that ended in tragedy last January.
"What I saw this morning was the bravest thing that I've ever seen anybody do, to put herself aside for the good of her constituents," Suzie Heilman said when interviewed by CBS News after the event. For Heilman -- who had brought 9-year-old neighbor Christina Taylor-Green to the Giffords' event last year when gunman Jared Loughner allegedly opened fire, killing the young girl and five others -- and the others who were personally touched by Giffords strength, real leadership means sometimes stepping aside.
As a special election to fill Giffords' absent seat looms in the near future, the politicians planning on running could learn a lot from both their brave predecessor and the current crop of presidential hopefuls. They should learn that while honesty and humility do not often win races, it is better and braver to take the high road.
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