Politics ain’t beanbag. The public is tolerant of a bit of excess in a high stakes political contests. They are savvy about it.  They don’t think too much less of those who engage in it, provided the participants are otherwise shown to be decent and reasonable. Elections are about contrast,  and it is necessary to explore such. It hardly shocks that ambitious and high performing people, folks who are not always afflicted with an excess of modesty, are capable of throwing sharp elbows.

Yet there has been a disturbing decline in the civil public discourse. Contempt for fair play is somehow equated with candor or strength.  Nobody should be in politics to hurt people.  That is why the recent actions of former Governor John Lynch disappoint so acutely.

Colin Van Ostern and Maggie Goodlander   are both high quality Democratic primary candidates for congress.  They are impressive, accomplished people.  Considering what finds it’s way into congress these days, the Granite State is lucky to have them.

One example of forgivable and predictable excess has been each campaign’s effort to depict the other as somehow soft on the right to choose. This issue has unusual salience in Dem primaries this year. In his youth Van Ostern worked for an anti choice Texas congressman. Goodlander worked for John McCain and Joe Lieberman, and her family was rooted in what has been an anti choice party. The arguments on both sides have been contortionist.  The fact is both candidates have impeccable pro choice records, and the entire discussion has been ridiculous. They have few other substantive issue differences.

Both of them also bring impressive but different backgrounds to their offer to serve.  This has become a flash point in the race. Each emphasizes their particular strengths. Roughly stated the choice is local immersion vs. national level contacts.   And there is nothing “nasty” about exploring these differences.

Colin had been immersed in civic and political life in NH. He ran campaigns for others. He was twice elected to executive council, was widely credited with serving well, and in 2016 he narrowly missed defeating Chris Sununu for governor. He made an innovative bid for Secretary of State in 2018, the Democrats’ choice against a venerable incumbent. He ruffled some feathers and came up just short,  but his emphasis on the need to modernize the office and confront the growing GOP assault on voting rights was prescient.

Maggie grew up in NH.  Her family was royalty in a Republican Party that is long gone today. She has  military experience, taught law at Dartmouth, and is married to the president’s national security advisor. She has not lived in the state she grew up in, taking an apartment here only as she launched her campaign.  Her work on Capitol Hill was more than entry level. She was endorsed by Hillary Clinton. Not surprisingly she emphasizes and relies upon her national credentials and contacts, including women veteran groups.  Colin grew up elsewhere, but stresses his grass roots ties here, and touts the  support of the popular retiring congress member, Annie Kuster, who, interestingly enough, is also from a Republican family, albeit a liberal one.

Until recently Colin also touted the endorsement of the popular former Governor John Lynch.

Last week Lynch (and a yogurt mogul Van Ostern once worked for) grabbed headlines by dramatically withdrawing  endorsement of Van Ostern, on the grounds that he was running an intolerably negative campaign. Not only that, Lynch said it was the “nastiest” campaign he can recall over many decades of Granite State political activity! Really? Is he familiar with the state rep who said Hillary Clinton should go before a firing squad? Is he familiar with the nationally famous editorials of the Union Leader?  Does he remember Styles Bridges’ treatment of Lester Hunt?   How about the sparks that flew in the Durkin/Wyman long count, or the first Governor Sununu’s conduct on almost any given day?  We could cite more such examples. We invite readers to consult their own recollections to determine if Lynch’s assertion has the ring of truth. If it does not, it is fair to question his motives.

Maggie and Colin have traded mild blows about their divergent resumes.  This should not shock anyone’s conscience. Actually, given the stresses and stakes, they have conducted themselves pretty well. Regrettably,  the nastiest thing about this campaign has been Governor Lynch’s role in it. The innuendo, the don’t- you- know- who- I- am throwing around of one’s weight. This is bafflingly out of character for Lynch.

One ought not begrudge  Lynch his preference, but good faith should not be too much to ask of someone in Lynch’s position.  He is surely aware of the impact of a withdrawn endorsement by someone of his stature.  You would think there was a compelling justification for his dramatics, a  scandal or a major breach of trust. The record simply does not justify the level of Lynch’s rhetoric. Sanctimonious mumbling  about  the “nastiest” campaign ever, with no particular evidence of this, will not do.  You don’t have to support Van Ostern in this race to believe he deserves better treatment than this.

At best this is capricious. At worst this is a violation of any concept of  fair play.  At worst, it is  breach of trust that creates needless bitterness at a time when Dem unity is a paramount necessity.

We are left wondering what the real back story is.  One can only speculate. Recall that Lynch interceded against his party, and Van Ostern, in the secretary of state contest. Many observers were surprised he endorsed Van Ostern in the first place. Governor Lynch has cultivated a non partisan, middle of the road image.  He made Kelly Ayotte attorney general. He supported Biden in the 2020 NH primary when 90% of the electorate said no thanks. (Biden’s South Carolina  DNC operatives got more than even, taking aim at our First in the Nation primary)

This is especially disappointing because Lynch has represented to many people a more positive approach to politics than is shown here. His recent activities in support of Ukraine are particularly to be admired.   These things make this a difficult editorial to write.  Any victory the derives from this graceless sucker punch may prove costly in the long run. Public trust and  esteem are a funny thing. They can take years to build, and be lost by one egregious and disingenuous  act.  To borrow Governor Lynch’s own language, we respect John Lynch, but don’t respect his conduct in this matter.