We overlook generally that politicians are individuals, and in doing so, we misjudge their capacity to manipulate as a result of we base our assist on the politics as a substitute of the individual.

When Vice President Kamala Harris turns into the Democratic Get together’s presidential nominee, the politics will inform her she’d be nicely served to pick out Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly as a operating mate.

Fighter pilot. Astronaut. Profitable businessman. Centrist U.S. senator.

She’d be even higher served, nonetheless, by wanting on the individual.

Mark Kelly has experience that few others have

I’ve experience in precisely not one of the abilities and tenacity required to achieve any of Kelly’s dynamic professions.However throughout a troublesome stretch of years, I got here to be an authority on a trait not listed on resumes, however one that claims lots concerning the individual. Maybe, the whole lot.

That’s: The willingness to take a seat subsequent to a mattress in a hospital or care facility and maintain a affected person’s hand. For hours.

And hours.

And hours.

Kelly did that after Jan. 8, 2011, when his spouse, then U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, was shot in an assassination try that took the lives of six others and wounded 13.

Kelly was in coaching for an area shuttle mission on the time. He rushed again to Tucson and sat along with his gravely wounded spouse.

For hours.

Holding Giffords’ hand for hours reveals character

I’d guess to those that’ve by no means accomplished such a factor, this doesn’t seem to be an accomplishment. They’d say it’s one thing a partner ought to do. Need to do. Want to do.

And whereas all of that’s true, it’s nonetheless one thing. And it may be … the whole lot.

Overlook Mark Kelly:This GOP senator must be Harris’ VP

Throughout an interview with reporters after his spouse was out of hazard, however nonetheless in want of fixed care, Kelly spoke of how his skilled coaching had ready him for the non-public disaster.

He mentioned, “In a really odd method, this feels lots like an area shuttle mission. Lots of choices, lengthy days, quite a lot of chaos all of sudden.

“Issues that aren’t working proper, aren’t going proper, you must repair, groups of individuals you must speak to, considerably worrying, dangerous — not for me, however for Gabby.”

Kelly is aware of what must be a high precedence

While you sit for hours and hours subsequent to a mattress, holding somebody’s hand, you’re pressured into a mirrored image you’d by no means tried earlier than, and wouldn’t have accomplished so even in case you did have time.

And it units you straight. It reorders your notion of first considerations. It teaches you that what’s vital, what will be — and must be — a Number one precedence, is sitting subsequent to a mattress, holding somebody’s hand.

For hours.

It doesn’t matter what different abilities or accomplishments a politician would possibly convey to elected workplace, I’d say there’s none higher than that.

Additionally, a disaster just like the one Giffords and Kelly endured enhances your capacity to adapt.

At one level in Giffords’ restoration, Kelly, who was nonetheless an astronaut, was requested how he envisioned the couple’s future.

He mentioned, “Sooner or later I’ll stop my job and she or he’ll proceed hers and we’ll spend extra time collectively.”

Attain Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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