Frank VanderSloot calls for civility in politics

IDAHO FALLS — While civility in politics may seem to be a thing of the past, the CEO of Melelauca says it’s still possible to be friends with someone you disagree with.

In fact, Frank VanderSloot believes many with opposing views can unite and work to resolve the issues facing America today.

“I think that good, intelligent, bright and well-intentioned people can come together and solve the problems on both sides,” VanderSloot told EastIdahoNews.com during an interview this week. “They can come up with really good solutions but that’s impossible when people are just going to war with each other.”

Over the past few weeks, politicians and their families have been confronted in elevators, at their homes, at restaurants and other places by outraged citizens and protestors.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi recently faced loud, spontaneous protests and many believe this type of behavior has gone too far.

“We have some saying you should attack people if they go to a restaurant, you should attack them in an elevator, you should attack them in the hallway — make sure they and their families know it’s not safe to go out and have a meal if they disagree with you,” VanderSloot says. “This whole idea of people disagreeing with you and being your enemy is not something I subscribe to.”

VanderSloot recalls being targeted in 2011 when he donated money to a group supporting presidential candidate Mitt Romney. An Obama campaign website called out VanderSloot and seven other private donors and said they had “less-than-reputable” records.

VanderSloot was informed that his tax records had been “selected for examination” by the Internal Revenue Service. The audit also included VanderSloot’s wife and two years of past filings.

“All the liberal press came after me and said things about me that were totally untruthful. We proved that in the courtroom,” VanderSloot recalls. “That kind of politics I’m opposed to because it doesn’t help us solve problems…and when we have Hillary Clinton saying there will be no civility until they are back in office — you’ve never heard a leader in the United States say something like that.”

VanderSloot believes the Democratic Party could take control of the House of Representatives in November and the Republican Party could remain the majority in the Senate, but anything is possible and the dynamics seem to change daily.

“This whole thing where more than ten bombs have been sent targeting liberal media and liberal leaders of the Democratic Party – that could change everything,” he says. “It’s despicable. (The suspect) should be brought to justice. The laws should be hard on them and we should make an example of them that it is just not acceptable. That whole thing could take the wind out of all the sails, if there was some, on the conservative side of the argument because nobody is going to tolerate attacks on anyone.”

Regardless of which candidates are elected, VanderSloot says it’s important to listen to those who have an opposing view.

“I think civility, right now, is a past tense word and we need to bring it back,” VanderSloot says. “I don’t think our president is helpful in that. I regret that. I like a lot of things he’s doing but I don’t like how he’s going about it. Some people will hate me for saying that and that’s the problem. If someone disagrees with you, there’s probably a good reason and if you disagree with them, there’s probably a good reason.”

“We need to get back to the day where we can disagree and solve problems by hearing each other out,” he adds.