MATTHEW TULLY

Tully: Wait, is Greg Zoeller really saying these things?

Matthew Tully

As Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller talked Monday morning, I found myself pondering a question: Is this guy, this conservative Republican who is running in a Republican congressional primary, really saying these things?

Things like: “If you are going to govern, you have to work together.” Seriously? You mean, Democrats and Republicans working together? Yep, that’s what he means.

And things like: “We need a Congress that can get to ‘yes’ on the fundamental issues facing the country.” Hold on, you’re telling GOP primary voters that both parties need to give a little to work out big solutions to big problems? Yes, he is.

And then there’s this one: “The truth is, you could sit down for 30 minutes with the most conservative member of Congress and then the most liberal member of Congress, and you’ll probably find that you like them both.” Wait, what? You’re willing to acknowledge that it’s possible to like people with whom you disagree about politics? Now you’re just messing with me. Right? Nope.

“The truth is,” Zoeller said, “I don’t have enemies. I don’t see any value in that. I have political opponents, but these are not personal disagreements.”

I don’t know about you, but I’ll take that answer any day over, say, presidential candidates who whine when asked to name one member of the other party with whom they’d collaborate. Or a candidate who says she sees those in the other party as her enemies. Or politicians who seem to forget that they represent diverse districts and states.

Still, as much as I appreciated the things Zoeller was saying, I did keep pondering that same question: Is a Republican running in a conservative-leaning congressional district really saying these things?

Yes, he is. And thank goodness.

If Congress needs anything, it is more leaders willing to say the type of rational things Zoeller is saying. After all, we have plenty of talking-point showboats who will throw partisan bombs and dreams at primary voters in hopes of scoring an extra percentage point or two. We have the dividers who so expertly exploit fear and anger. Plenty of them. What we need more of are candidates who are willing to tell voters the truth.

Meaning this truth: We’re only going to tackle this country’s biggest challenges by working together. By fighting hard in defense of ideologies and philosophies, yes, but also by giving a little. That’s the only way. Any other suggestion from a candidate is a poll-tested fantasy.

And this truth: As Zoeller says, you can’t solve our immigration issues with a simplistic plan to “round up 11.5 million people and build a wall.” You have to do the hard word of working together, and casting some tough votes, on a real plan.

Sorry, but it’s true.

Don’t get me wrong. Zoeller is a politician, and he will take his shots at the president. He sticks to the standard GOP line about not bending on hot-button issues such as guns and abortion. A constitutional lawyer, he rails against the “overreach” of the federal government on environmental issues and other matters. If he wins the race for the 9th Congressional District seat next year, he’d carry with him to Washington a solid conservative ideology.

But here’s what’s refreshing about the former aide to then Sen. Dan Quayle. He rejects the “shut‘er down” wing of the GOP — a wing that can help you win a primary but not govern after you’re elected. He says we need to work together to address the deficit now, one step at a time, rather than kicking the can down the road for another decade while holding out for the elusive perfect deal. He acknowledges that this country has two strong parties, and that a member of Congress represents people from both of them.

“I am a certified mediator,” he said. “And when you are a mediator, you bring parties together who don’t agree and help them find some common way forward. I know some will say, ‘Oh my gosh, he is a going to compromise.’ But if you are going to govern, you have to work together.”

With current U.S. Rep. Todd Young running for the Senate, Zoeller is running against state Sens. Brent Waltz and Erin Houchin in the 9th District GOP primary. The district stretches from the Ohio River to Johnson County and, Zoeller said, is filled with voters who are frustrated and angry with Washington, and deeply fearful of where the nation and world are headed.

So, I asked, will his calm and collaborative message sell in an era dominated by fear and anger?

“You have to recognize the anger that is out there and understand it, but you can’t lead with that,” Zoeller said. “Hidden behind this fear and anger is this question: Why can’t they just get things done?”

Why? Because too many have fallen into the trap of believing that political disagreements cannot be overcome. Zoeller is running a campaign based in part on the wild idea that they can be. It’s a lesson learned at home.

“My wife and I disagree on things,” he said, “and we couldn’t love each other more.”

Nobody is asking the partisans in Washington to love each other. But it sure would be nice to see them work together.

You can reach me at matthew.tully@indystar.com or at Twitter.com/matthewltully.