On Tuesday, June 11 at 9:00am US Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) is joining the Project on Ethics in Political Communication to talk about why candidates and elected officials should be ethical - what are the incentives to behave well? Register for the conversation here.
We also asked half a dozen others to weigh in - two Republicans, two Democrats, a philosopher and a journalist. Their responses are below in alphabetical order. The authors’ full bios are at the bottom.
Prof. Jeffrey Brand
Associate Provost, Associate Professor of Philosophy at the George Washington University
Suppose you’re confident that a certain path is unethical, but not necessarily unlawful. What reason might you have to avoid the unethical path? The simplest answers concern the immediate probable effects of unethical conduct. It might be counter-productive for you in the short term, damaging your professional reputation, your career prospects, and your net worth.
Even if it has no such negative effects in the short term, it might have them in the longer term. Even if the unethical path benefits you in a given case, taking it might inculcate habits in you that will lead you someday to make unethical decisions that seem expedient, but are actually bad for you. Such bad habits could also spill over into other areas of life. Ethics and prudence can be opposed, but there are many parallels. The habit of acting unethically might make you more likely to act imprudently, as well.
In a given instance, of course, you might be confident that unethical conduct doesn’t threaten your long-term interests. But your subjective confidence might be misplaced. A better rule of thumb might be “always act ethically,” even when you’re fairly confident that the unethical choice is worth the risk.
Unethical behavior can also deplete the fund of trust upon which civilization depends, even if its effects on the shared “trust fund” are imperceptible in any single case. Analogously, the effect of a single combustion engine on rising sea levels is immeasurably miniscule, but their collective effects on sea levels is devastating. Likewise with unethical conduct. Some will see this as an independent reason to be ethical.
Situations in which you’re confident (and correctly so) that acting unethically will promote your long-term self-interest also provide unique opportunities to acquire self-knowledge. They enable you to learn if you are a genuinely free, rational agent, willing and able to do the right thing for the right reason. Choosing ethically can be a form of self-actualization. Some even see these moments of unencumbered ethical choice as connecting them to the rest of humanity and beyond, to the transcendent, the universal, and the divine.
Philosophers can’t “think away” the reality of psychopaths, some of whom appear to know right from wrong, but find themselves with no motivation to do right. We can only ask you if you wish to emulate them. And hope that you don’t.
Dr. Mark P. Campbell
Senior Republican consultant
Ethical behavior in politics has never been more critical to winning elections, particularly in an era where voters, inundated with negativity and misinformation, are desperately seeking integrity in their candidates and elected officials. In a landscape where skepticism towards politicians runs deep, and "outsider" candidates often gain an edge for their perceived honesty, good ethics fosters trust. Voters are on the lookout for candidates who can break the mold of the traditional, often disingenuous, politician—a perceived rarity in today's political landscape.
Acknowledging this, it becomes essential to establish a system where ethical behavior is not just encouraged but rewarded, challenging the status quo epitomized by figures like Roger Stone and Paul Manafort, who are seen as successful despite their questionable ethics. Introducing tangible incentives for ethical conduct—such as public recognition for transparency, and demanding ethical leadership from our representatives can significantly shift the political paradigm.
It's about playing the long game, fostering lasting trust with voters. Glenn Youngkin exemplifies this approach; the trust we built throughout his campaign, both with voters in Virginia and nationwide, not only benefits him as the current Governor of Virginia but also positions him favorably for possible future ambitions for a higher office. When an opponent’s ethical breach is revealed, the resulting damage is significant and often irreversible, regardless of how much consultants attempt to mitigate it through spending. Winners govern, losers complain, and exemplifying good ethics is crucial to building lasting trust and winning campaigns.
Paul Kendrick
Executive Director, Rust Belt Rising – Democratic candidate training organization
The incentive to be ethical—if one needs one beyond doing what’s morally right—is in taking the long-term considerations.
Unethical practices are short-sighted and unsustainable.
We see this today in digital fundraising. You can bring in a quick buck with scammy emails, but it weakens your bond to an audience and your leadership brand. It is possible to write substantive content that motivates your audience to give by helping them understand why. That is not to say that it’s always easy to make these choices. Campaigns can rationalize things around the need to win, the righteousness of their cause, the more time it takes to write something compellingly of substance. But we are paying the price as a whole in politics when audiences once gave start tuning all of these emails out because people overdid it. That eventually hurts every campaign—the ones who were the worst actors too—so we can only hope people are thoughtful. In digital fundraising, I see ethics as being honest. If it’s not a real petition, don’t say it is. If you’re not really speaking on behalf of a famous leader, don’t say you are. Be honest about what you are doing, how this money helps, and be respectful to not over-ask. Treat an email list like a friend you’d ask.
Then when it comes to ethical actions in office, we are reminded by Senator Bob Menendez how unethical (well, in this case ultimately criminal) behavior catches up. Now that will be his legacy despite whatever good bills he voted for in his time as a Senator. Doing things right is ultimately rewarded by people in the reputation that you build for conscientiousness.
In the Obama White House, an expression I heard as to how to judge an action is “how would this look as a Washington Post headline?” Again, we want to do things right for the sake of it. But if that’s not enough, or if they are unintentional gray areas, then look at how it would be seen and make sure you do things you would be proud of. It’s still possible to win that way. You will win more years from now if you do.
Kathryn Larson
Democratic Candidate, Idaho House of Representatives, District 1
People rationalize their behavior in the pursuit of power. Politics is the pursuit of power. Unethical behavior can accelerate the capture of some power – like elected office. Yet, power can also be quickly drained or gained when unethical behavior is exposed.
Michelle Obama gained power when she refused to go low. Liz Cheney gained personal power (while losing positional power) when she stood up to Trump. Michelle Obama and Liz Cheney could not be more different in their policies and beliefs. Yet, the same people grant both tremendous respect.
Unethical behavior and communication are transient. I believe that clear and transparent communication and refusing to jump into the muck will be rewarded.
In my rural American district, a senator got elected by engaging in a smear campaign claiming that a multi-generational, favored son was a pedophile and supported human trafficking, among other things. The unethical senator’s campaign depended on a domain of motivated, primary, loyalist, voters among his religious base. Current data indicates that he has awakened the complacent middle. There’s been a huge surge in Republican party registrations to vote him out in the primary.
My grandfather – City Manager of Dallas – coached me, “Don’t do or say anything that you’d be embarrassed to see on the front page of the Dallas Morning News.” My add-on is “know that the bad actors will spread horrible rumors about you. Don’t give them any real fuel.” The older I get, the more I understand the wisdom in Papa’s words.
Reena Ninan
Journalist, Founder Good Trouble Productions
Ethical behavior in politics is the lifeline for maintaining public trust and confidence in government. When politicians act ethically, they show their commitment to public interest supersedes personal advancement. This creates faith in the political process. But too often that trust is so easily broken.
If we move to incentivize ethical behavior in politics we might want to consider:
Stronger Laws
Passing any legislation through Congress seems impossible these days. But coupling tougher anti-corruption laws with severe penalties guaranteed to be enforced- could help with accountability and integrity. Too often anti-corruption laws have loopholes that are easy to circumvent. By ensuring tougher standards- with guarantees that penalties will be levied- might help to mitigate unethical behavior.
Public Accountability and Participation
A robust democracy requires public accountability, citizen participation, and transparent governance. Access to information about government activities and campaign finances is essential. However, opening up records isn't enough- we need to ensure citizens can easily find and access this information. Transparency and citizen engagement are crucial for holding politicians accountable for their financial actions.
Independent Media Support
Empowering journalists is also vital for fostering accountability and transparency. Stronger laws must protect them from harassment and legal threats. Whistleblowers are key in uncovering corruption- strengthening protections can encourage them to share information without fear. Independent media often lacks resources- funding and support for investigative journalism.
Offering aid to these organizations would allow for more political corruption and ethics violations reporting.
In summary, the incentives to be ethical in politics can range from helping to foster public trust through transparency, stronger laws, and better media protection and support. The focus on incentivizing ethical behavior is important. It contributes to the overall health and stability of democracy.
Peyton Rollins
GW School of Media and Public Affairs student
Press assistant, Republican member of the US House
I am tempted to name multiple incentives motivating elected officials and candidates to behave ethically, but my gut tells me that there is only one: their constituents. Through elections, constituents control whether elected officials and candidates stay in office or not, and most want to see their elected officials and candidates behave ethically. In fact, a 2018 Pew Research study found that 91 percent of Republicans and 90 percent of Democrats agree that political officials need “to be honest and ethical.”
With this many Americans agreeing that elected officials need to behave ethically, every politician in the United States should be seen as a model of ethical behavior. Yet, a Gallup poll from last year found that just 10 percent of Americans thought members of Congress were “honest and ethical.” This is not just a Congressional problem: in a separate Gallup study, only around 42 percent said the Biden administration behaves ethically.
If constituents incentivize elected officials to behave ethically, then how do members of Congress and the President stay in office with such low ratings? In both polls cited above, there is high partisan disagreement over what it means to be ethical. In other words, a Republican in rural South Carolina and a Democrat in Los Angeles probably expect different ethical behavior from their elected officials. While constituents still incentivize officials and candidates to behave ethically, they are divided over what ethical behavior even means.
Author Bios:
Prof. Jeffrey Brand
Jeffrey Brand is Associate Provost for Undergraduate Affairs and Special Programs at the
George Washington University. He is also Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University
and affiliated with the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. He
served as Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
from 2014-2019. Professor Brand has published on criminal sentencing theory, the ethics of
adjudication, and social contract theory, among other topics, in such journals as Ethics, Legal
Theory, and the Canadian Journal of Law & Jurisprudence. His monograph, Limits of Legality:
The Ethics of Lawless Judging (Oxford University Press, 2010) appeared in Chinese translation
with China Renmin University Press in 2017. In 2010 he received the Morton A. Bender Award
for General Teaching Excellence from the University. He was a full-time visiting scholar in the
Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health in 2012-13. A graduate of Vassar
College, he holds a J.D. and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.
Dr. Mark P. Campbell
Dr. Mark P. Campbell began his career as a Presidential Fellow during the Reagan Administration in the Department of Defense. Dr. Campbell was recently selected as a Pritzker Fellow by the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics and is currently a Senior Fellow at the Leadership Institute, where he teaches campaign management. He has worked with hundreds of federal, state, and local campaigns, winning numerous tough "down ballot" races in swing areas even when the top of the GOP ticket lost substantially. Dr. Campbell served as National Political Director for Ted Cruz for President. Other presidential campaigns include Rudy Giuliani, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush.
Mark and his wife Kathy reside in Dallas, Texas, and have six grown children.
Paul Kendrick
Paul Kendrick is the Executive Director of Rust Belt Rising, a Midwest political training organization, as well as a professor at National Louis University in Chicago. Paul served in President Obama's White House and on his 2012 Wisconsin campaign. He was previously the Director of College Success at the Harlem Children's Zone. He is the co-author of Nine Days: The Race to Save Martin Luther King Jr.'s Life and Win the 1960 Election, a New York Times Book Review editor's pick that deals with political ethics and courage in the Kennedy/Nixon election. He previously co-authored Douglass and Lincoln: How a Revolutionary Black Leader and a Reluctant Liberator Struggled to End Slavery and Save the Union. You can follow him on Twitter at Paulkendrick84.
Kathryn Larson
Kathryn Larson is a Democratic candidate for the Idaho State Legislature in 2024. She is the founder of the management and coaching consulting firm Riley Thinks, and is a professional glassworker. Her extensive private sector experience includes roles with McKinsey, IndustryMasters, and The Regis Company. In 1998 she co-founded Granite Technologies where she developed one of the first web-based electronic performance support platforms.
Reena Ninan
Reena Ninan is a television journalist and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Good Trouble Productions, a media company focused on amplifying causes through producing, distributing, and hosting engaging content. Reena created and hosts two top-rated podcasts, Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting and HERO: The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women. She has served as a foreign correspondent in the Middle East—reporting from Baghdad to Beirut to Jerusalem—as well as a White House Correspondent for ABC News. She also anchored the CBS Weekend news in New York. Reena is most passionate about foreign affairs, female entrepreneurship, economic inclusion, mental health/wellness, and creating thriving communities.
Peyton Rollins
Peyton Rollins is a student in the School of Media and Public Affairs at the George Washington University. A native of South Carolina, Peyton is a press assistant for a Republican member of the US House of Representatives. Prior to his current role, Peyton interned in several Congressional offices and in the South Carolina governor’s office. He is also an SMPA Ambassador.