As the United States approaches its semiquincentennial, Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly and Republican Sen. Todd Young are advocating for a return to bipartisan cooperation and courageous decision-making in Washington. The two senators, both military veterans, shared their views on leadership during an appearance on ABC News' "This Week," highlighting the challenges of serving the common good in a politically polarized climate.
Kelly, representing Arizona, stated that senators must sometimes take stances that are in the nation's best interest but could be personally detrimental to their careers. "That's hard for some folks," he told co-anchor Jonathan Karl.
Young, from Indiana and a former U.S. Marine Corps officer, drew a parallel between the courage required in military service and the courage needed by elected officials. "This sort of courage, in some respects, is one that's less familiar to many people. It's the courage to be misunderstood by people you respect and love and whose values you share on, on difficult issues. It's courage to do unpopular things and to be held to account," Young explained. "But I feel like that sort of courage, which is emphasized in military service, is necessary in order to serve the common good in divided times."
Both senators are featured in the new book "Courage Can Save US" by Rye Barcott, founder and CEO of With Honor, an organization that supports bipartisan veterans running for office. Barcott noted that over 50 veterans are currently serving in Congress, many of whom have pledged to serve with integrity, civility, and courage, including working across party lines.
Kelly and Young have collaborated on legislation aimed at revitalizing U.S. shipbuilding and commercial maritime industries to counter China's maritime influence. However, their bipartisan efforts have navigated political headwinds, including a past instance where the Trump administration targeted Kelly over remarks he and other Democrats made regarding service members' right to refuse unlawful orders. Young recounted texting Kelly during that period, emphasizing the importance of trust and solidarity among colleagues.
Young addressed the rarity of public Republican criticism of the former president, framing his own approach as prioritizing broader legislative initiatives over constant commentary. "Am I here to hold forth every time I have a concern about utterances or even actions, but render myself unable then to work on broader initiatives that are important to my constituents on behalf of my constituents in the country, or am I here to narrate a presidency?" Young mused. "It's very difficult, this job, to navigate the shoals and assess, you know, the moral calculus of the moment and assess when you should go to the wall, so to speak."
Despite the political pressures, Young stated that the White House assured him their work on shipbuilding legislation could continue. Kelly observed that it is often easier for those in the minority party to navigate such complexities, particularly with the current administration. "We're all adults. We understand the complexities of our own individual politics and certainly how complex it is, especially for Republicans with this administration in particular," Kelly said.
While Kelly believes President Trump "looks at every opportunity not as an opportunity to bring the country together but to further divide us," leading to a July 4th rally rather than a unifying celebration, Young urged Americans to demand more from their leaders. "This is an experiment. It is a fragile experiment and it only exists if the American people take command of this country, and if they have challenges with the way we're being led, then put people in office that can do a better job," he concluded.