Mike Huckabee

When I first heard this week that 90-year-old former Senator and Presidential candidate George McGovern was in hospice care and nearing the end, my first thoughts were prayers for his family, and memories of my youth, when McGovern was the dean of American liberalism. But I also thought of how we get so caught up in political labels but that humanity and common sense can transcend partisan stereotypes. That certainly happened to George McGovern.

Back in the early ‘80s, after a long career championing big government, McGovern retired from politics and tried something new. He and a friend with hotel experience bought a small inn in Connecticut, and McGovern poured his life savings into it. And it went bankrupt. Partly because of a recession, but as he later admitted, mostly because of crushing regulations and local, state and federal taxes. In an astounding confession, McGovern wrote that he wished he’d had that business experience before he’d gone into politics. If he’d understood the burden government places on business owners by excessive taxes, regulations, mandates and lawsuits, it would have made him a better legislator. His business experience changed his whole world view. As late as 2008, McGovern criticized the push for government-mandated, one-size-fits-all health care. He said government can’t iron out every wrinkle in life, or think it’s helping adults by taking away their options. Freedom of choice means some people will choose unwisely, but that’s no reason to take away everyone else’s choices.

It makes you see George McGovern in a whole new light. And it makes you wonder just how different Obamacare would’ve been if our current dean of American liberalism had had even a tiny bit of experience running a business.

On Sunday George McGovern died.  May he rest in peace.