Christie, Mulvaney, and the Compromise of Compromise

“This is what compromise looks like. Sometimes it’s quiet, sometimes it’s loud.” – New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

“That’s not compromise!” – South Carolina Rep Mick Mulvaney

Compromise means that the two bargaining sides do not give up on their principles, but each side will never end up getting everything that they want.

That definition, by the way, comes from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who was defending 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney during a warm yet heated roundtable discussion with MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough. Christie wisely articulated that in compromise, two sides bring their views and their values, but because they need to persuade different groups within a legislature or throughout a state to support a policy, both sides give something to gain something else.

Compromise works when negotiators do not sell out their values, and more importantly do not ignore the rules of the game in the process, like overarching rules and regulations already in place. Federal law exists to protect the integrity of the United States, from all enemies both foreign and domestic. Immigration is a boon for every country, yet becomes a bane when the rule of law is ignored, and results in a ban on able labor when state and federal leaders ignore the law of the land.

Compromise cannot occur when both sides insist on ignoring essential verities, like legislation which requires that immigrants pay certain fees, take tests, and follow the outlined procedures to receive legal status. Governor Christie claims that he compromised by permitting undocumented immigrants to attend state universities at in-state tuition levels, yet refuses to permit them to receive financial aid in order to enroll.

This is not compromise. This is lawlessness, an unrepentant decision to ignore the rule of law and strike a bargain for political points, or to pander to political pressures. In the same way that two greed uncles spend the inheritance of a ward under their charge.

In the past month, however, Christie has compromised the very notion of compromise by promoting a DREAM Act-lite provision for New Jersey immigrants who were brought to the United States as babies, yet their illegal status has not changed. Christie has signed legislation which will permit undocumented youth who have attended New Jersey high schools for three years to enroll in state universities and pay in-state tuition.

Rewind back to the candidate Christie in 2009, and the former US Attorney is explaining to the prospective voters why he opposes DREAM act legislation:

“They do not pay into the state subsidy.”

An economic reason, free of emotion or political pandering, Christie recognized that extending in-state tuition grants to illegal immigrants is too costly, and that the legal residents will end up paying the bill. That’s not fair.

Four years and double-digit reelection results later, Christie has waffled, hiding behind the slogan “tuition equality” to justify enabling illegal immigration and granting the “DREAM” of illegal immigrants and amnesty advocates.

This is not compromise. This is naked abuse of power in the name of state-sponsored humanitarianism. This agreement to foster a “DREAM Act is compromise the way that two thieves evenly divide the loot which they pilfered from an unguarded home.

Not just with Christie’s caving in to immigration pressures, but with Congressman Paul Ryan’s decision to support cuts to military pensions, and more importantly President Obama’s passage of the Affordable Care Act, which as rendered health insurance unaffordable while raising taxes on the middle class, compromise as a political art form has become compromised.

Another example delineating the comprehensive failure of true, problem-solving bipartisanship emerged in a CNN discussion following the last-minute fiscal cliff deal in 2012. Rep Mick Mulvaney voted against the hasty, late-night deal, arguing that the “compromise” would increase spending and taxes without cutting the spending. Willing to negotiate on revenue increases, Mulvaney would never agree to any plan which ignored rising debt. Then the CNN moderator cited complaints that Tea Party Republicans in the House refused to compromise.

Mulvaney balked, then criticized that mentality pervasive among the Beltway media classes. “I wish that I could show them what we are trying to do in Washington,” Mulvaney continued. He then illustrated: “Imagine if someone came to you and offered to buy your home for one dollar. I mean, you would slam the door in his face. That’s not compromise!”

Exactly. When one side is giving everything, and the other side gets most of what they want, you have acquiescence, especially when the side giving everything abdicates its responsibilities. In the same manner, Christie compromised not only with the Democratically-controlled legislature in Trenton, he compromised his own values, or at least the views of his party, and furthermore he compromised his office, as every Governor must uphold and defend the United States Constitution.

The DREAM Act will be a nightmare for the rule of law in Trenton and throughout the country, as well as compromising Christie’s chances for higher political office. Now more than ever, voters need leaders who fulfill the spirit as well as letter of compromise, upholding their vows will respecting the views and values of the other side.