Tom Schweich
I’d expected to vote for Tom Schweich for Missouri governor in 2016…
Although I had met Schweich only briefly, I knew his likely Democratic opponent, Chris Koster, halfway well, and I liked the contrast: dweeby straight arrow vs. blow-dried sleazeball.
I was convinced that Koster had changed parties a few years back because he had too much personal baggage to run for statewide office as a Republican.
Yes, Virgina, Republicans do face more media scrutiny.
Doubt me? Ask Scott Walker. Ask Sam Brownback.
But there was much I didn’t know about Schweich,
Missouri State Auditor for the last four years. One very close associate described him as “high strung and thin skinned,” in this case a lethal combination for a gubernatorial candidate in what promised to be a difficult election.
Schweich did not see the political advantage in his own obvious lack of charisma. I’m told that a recent radio ad comparing him to Barney Fife wounded him deeply.
Schweich had another weakness.
As an establishment guy with a great Ivy resume and years of Washington experience, he understood Missouri’s Republican base no better than does his mentor, the increasingly out-of-touch John Danforth.
Whether or not there was such a “whispering campaign,” Schweich, a practicing Episcopalian with a Jewish grandfather, had convinced himself that his Republican opposition was spreading the word that he was Jewish.
Schweich apparently had convinced himself that this would hurt him with evangelical Christians. Had he not heard of Barry Goldwater? Or Mark Levin. Or Michael Savage?
This was an unfortunate stereotype about evangelicals that Democrats had been feeding for years and shamelessly in recent days.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Tony Messenger set a new land speed record for instant exploitation of an untimely death in insinuating that the Jewish Community Center shooter, Frazier Glenn Miller, was representative of the party’s base.
Miller, a throwback to some bygone time and place, was representative of nothing. If it even mattered, he was a Democrat.
In fact, as Benjamin Netanyahu well understands, evangelical Christians are the best friends Israel has in the world. These are the people who go to the Holy Land on their vacations.
Evangelical Christians are not the ones threatening to boycott Netanyahu’s speech. Nor are they the ones making life difficult for Jewish groups on America’s campuses.
Ironically. Schweich’s trump card in his primary battle against former House Speaker Catherine Hanaway was his support from Second Amendment supporters.
Schweich played this card right up front when he announced his candidacy a few weeks back, and it likely would have gotten him the nomination. At the time of his death, he was leading in the polls and in fundraising.
As to his last moments, they had to be the culmination of many, many things. The jibes he endured said a close associate were a “3 on a 10-scale, but to Tom, they were an 11.”
His wife and campaign team tried to talk him out of holding a small press conference at his home on the alleged whispering campaign. They argued. He snapped. He ran up to the master bedroom, and pulled out his .38.
In fine, we thought that he was everything.
To make us wish that we were in his place.
So on we worked, and waited for the light,
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head.
You can put the conspiracy talk to rest.
Rich Steele is a citizen journalist and head of the NSAAS (Non-Smokers Against Anti-Smoking).
You have done one of the greatest disservices to the mental health industry
and wellness community with this completely insane article.
You place this man’s suicide at only politics but you don’t know the story
and just bring out more b.s,
How can a short simple meeting give you total insight into this man’s
problems and what his mind was going thru at thetime.
And what about his Koch supported primary opponent?
To think that this man’s past many years ago casued this is disgusting.
Politically…the state of Missouri is becoming more conservative than ever.
Had he gotten past the primary…he was probably a pretty sure bet to
win.
You knew nothing of him…only what someone told you….
Did you verify the comment…did you verify that the conference was about
his jewish background…or that even would hurt him with republican voters.
So essentially you say that republicans wouldn never vote for a jew!!!!!!
And that an ancient ancestor who was jewish would disqualify him from
being elected…and he had to face the fact that republicans hate jews!!!!!
Wow…how impressive is that when the republican party (according to
steele brains) hates immigrants/Hispanics/African americans/women/
and now we can include jews.
Wow…
By being of jewish blood it would hurt him with the evangelical Christians
when in the same article mention that these Christian evangelicals loved
jews…helped them on campuses….and even not threatening to boycott
netanyahuuuuuu’s speech. What great friends those Christians are …..
But they too are dwindling…like the stupid old white losers who put these
creeps in office.
Oh and net says evangelican Christians are jews best friends..so why would
the guy knowing this take his life before meeting with those Christians.
Your logic is failed.
And his opposition was spreading word that he was jewish…and he thought
they would not vote for him because of connection to jews.
You’re not a health professional…you have no evidence to prove why this
man committed suicide.
Steele: suicide is a serious issue. Someone with your lack of knowledge
on the causes and the reasons is an absolute disgusting story.
An article that contradicts
itself at least in every paragraph anc the total lack of human
decency to get facts…not gossip and innuendo…and trying to
explain what was in the victims mind at the time.
You have hit rock bottom.
Haarley believes there is still much to come out. Mark my word…
As for steele…the man s body hasn’t even been probably
laid to rest…and you’re spitting on his name..his family and his
legacy.
Rest in peace sir.
I don’t know how his religion deals with suicide but its deeply frowned
on with jews.
as our ol’ Gangsta -in- Chief Harry A$s Truman said –
“if you can’t stand the heat – get out of the kitchen”
— plus — when you ‘do’ yourself — you make your enemies happy — and hurt your loved ones.
sad story all around..hate to see hacks trying to gain political gain from it –
+1 artemis
An opportunity to offer some positive reflections on the life of a good man but instead it’s used as a vessel to spread ugly partisanship. Sad and shallow.
I viewed the story as offering some insight into a sad situation.
And I know that Steele had some good sources.
Then again, I don’t frame everything I see or hear in terms of partisan politics.
But that’s just me.
I think it’s a pretty safe bet that stories about what a great guy Schweich was, etc. will come out. But that doesn’t mean there’s not an appetite for behind the scenes perspectives on what drove him to this moment.
hearne…
did you check those sources? or just know he had
good sources?
This was not about partisan politics…it was the
ugliness of a story that was just plain vile and gross.
Steel head never knew this guy…he’s only going on
what was already on the media.
Agree. Nevertheless, dozens of accidents happened on KC roads because of the weather. Some people should stay home regardless of weather.
Write down the time and date that I agreed with Harley; what a stupid story.
*correction* Too many windows open (even with the blizzard). I posted my comment to the wrong article. Damnit.
Dear Mr. Steele: Thank you for this posting. You note what I think is the key factor here–the attacks on Mr. Schweich were at most a “3” on a scale of “10”–but to him they were an “11”. And, in the tragic reality that is suicide, this is a most important thing to keep in mind. There are all sorts of slights or attacks that to most people are minor, but to some people are deeply, deeply hurtful. Coming from a Navy family, I was deeply shocked a number of years ago by the suicide of Navy CNO Adm. Boorda. He had been accused of wearing a ribbon in his “fruit salad” on his dress uniform that he was not entitled to. To most of us, a small matter–but to Boorda it was devastating and he killed himself. For whatever reason, the attacks on Mr. Schweich were equally devastating. I guess that the lesson that all of us can learn from this terrible tragedy is that we should pause when we are about to dismiss someone’s pain over some situation with the “throw away line”: “It is no big deal.” Well, it may be a very big deal to them. My first year of teaching I had to get a young female sophmore help after she threatened to kill herself–she was going to do this because she was going to get the first “B” of her college career. I often wonder what would of happened if I had simply said to her: “That is no big deal–get over it.” (Incidentally, the young woman got the help she needed and went on to a great career.) So, the next time you hear someone in anquish over what appears to you to be a minor matter, the one thing you should not say to them is: “It is no big deal.” Sincerely, Respectfully and In Christ, Ernest Evans
I am saddened that we cannot find good, honest candidates who stand for what they believe. Schweich was such a man, and whether he had the chops to make it as Governor, we will never know. Here is what we do know. He was a better auditor with more honesty that Claire, having never failed to pay taxes on his lake home and airplane, and as for Mr. Koster, his conviction record in Ferguson, while still early, stands as testament to a man who wants the title but not the job.
However, it is as much a Republican failure as it is a Democrat failure, as it was Republicans he had been talking to, after a Democrat add that some radio station had opted to run that exceeded any standards of common decency. Having been to more than one state convention in more than one state, I can attest to some in the hierarchy that think they are entitled on both sides.
That ad was not from Democrats. That sleazeball Jeff Roe was behind it, so you know it was only going to get worse. Danforth; you say out of touch, I say last honorable Republican standing…
Terri…I never met this man who committed sucidie. Had known sos kander and his
wife thru friends we had met.
Had been surprised when Jason won sos.
I had not followed the republicanvprimary but was surprised
to hear that Christian evangelicls were spreading rumors
that he had a jewish grandfather andthat he had planned
a conference to explain about his far reaching jewish roots.
That Christian evangelicals were spreading rumor about those
roots and that it would possibly costhim the election.
To call a meeting to explain that his jewish roots probably
would not affectbhis vote was absurd.
Especially on the day when hundreds of republicans
congressmen stood with stnanding ovations the pm of
isreael.
the question is so simple…do Christians hate jewish
politicians. From this articvl and from others this man
had to hold a meeting to undoe his jewish roots to get
elected.
yet in the congress…Christians stood and applauded a
jewish leader 40 times on the connection with America
and Israel to stand together..not as allies for other motives..
but for the belief that both countireis were joined at the
hip forever.
Tehn why would the episcopal Christians hold secret meeting
and romours about the underlying issue of this candidate
having a jewlish uncle. The pattern is absurd.
when the Christian politicains stood and cheered for
isreal was this fo theatrics or was this for the fact that
the jewish state must be protected by Americans.
There is a true dichotomy here…why would the Christians
not vote for a man merely for hs long past jewishvties
when in the house they stood and applauded the jewish
head of state.
It’s confusing…do the evangelicals hate jews? according
tothis aricle they do.
Or are thy willing to stnd for the right of jews in American
to hold office regarrldess of theirv past hisotryr.
I think they’re phony. Whatebe bring them cash and
power is what they love.
Godbless isreal…god bless the jewish people….
WE WILL FORGIVE…BUT WE WILL NEVER FORGET WHO
WHO OUR REAL ENEMIES ARE…AND I THINK WE
SEE WHO OUR REAL ENEMIES ARE RIGHT HERE IN
AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
It’s often said suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary situation. The most difficult thing for some people to ‘get’ is perspective of their situation.
Many people act like it’s the end of the world if someone says something negative about them, or they don’t get that ONE run at higher office (as if there weren’t any further chances in the future) or if they don’t get that coveted interview, etc.,
RIP Tom. Perhaps you were just TOO good for this world.
Why did the Christians plot aginst a man who’se grandfather was jewish..
who had lived a different faith.
Because they take agantage of they situation…and theywnat the money.
Mr. adelson…yu are making friends with the friends of the lions…
hopefully you will see the light!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Irony alert: commenters, john danforth and stl post columnist condemn Missourians as narrow minded bigots possessing stereotypical attitudes about Jews while themselves possessing stereotypical views about “evangelical Christians.” Truth is, being called an evangelical Christian or member of the “Christian Right” is a demeaning remark heard daily. In the same spirit of tolerance for diverse views, anyone who questions the official explanation of this tragedy is labeled hateful and hard hearted. Lol. the intolerant promoters of tolerance as long as it’s their point of view are so transparent.
I’m certain I am not the only person who has experienced a situation in which someone perseverate a on a perceived slight and before long their behavior is out of control – either towards themselves or others. Ask any a used woman what set off her husbands latest beating – often you’ll find the man thinks she looked at a man in the grocery store, left a coffee cup on the counter or didn’t answer the phone quickly enough. This irrationality isn’t the sole pervue of abusers – anyone dealing a depression or anxiety or other emotional disorders can be observed falling Into this self destructive pattern. So why did I use the abuser example? To make it easier for people to see that just because the abuser was upset by something done or something said no one would suggest the abuse could have been avoided if the abused had just acted right. And that, rev/senator da forth has done. when people are disturbed there will always be something that will upset them. That doesnt mean the rest of the world has a responsibility to devote their days to trying not to upset them. It means they need some emotional help. If da forth other and family all recognized signs of emotional instability in schweich as they keep saying then their responsibility was to get the man some medical care. Those closest to him had a responsibility to take his threats of self harm seriously as well as the red flags they admit they saw instead of focusing on his political career. but then it’s always easier to accuse others of intolerance to avoid looking at ones own failures.
Schweich should have realized that Republicans don’t hate Jews, they hate Muslims and atheists (and often confuse the two, somehow). In fact, they love Jews so much that they not only prostrate themselves in front of the leader of the Dear Israeli Leader, they go all 1984 in questionin those who don’t clap for the Dear Israeli Leader enthusiastically enough, as happened with Rand Paul.
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/414746/unenthused-rand-paul-lifelessly-applauds-netanyahu-speech-brendan-bordelon