A voice for compromise, lonely but not defeated
Sen. Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, is renowned as a force of bipartisanship in Washington, and sometimes as a voice of reason. Introducing Collins at the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) on Thursday night, Harvard President Drew Faust characterized her as a problem-solver who can look beyond ideology. “She sees her role on the Hill in terms that are becoming increasingly and unfortunately rare. Through this tumultuous and transfixing election season, she has instilled the value of treating people with respect.” Moderated by HKS Dean Douglas W. Elmendorf, the hourlong talk often brought out her differences with the current GOP. Yet Collins noted that she still sees herself as a traditional New England Republican. “I believe in the traditional values of personal responsibility, individual freedom, free markets, and a strong national defense,” she said. “And I believe in keeping government out of certain aspects of our lives. Today I feel that the party...