“Representative Savant”

Interview with Douglas Bruce

There are some individuals in life that we will never really understand. There are certain common expectations for behavior and subsequent actions – however subtle and subconscious, that human beings have of each other. When someone doesn’t fit with natural expectations, we are shocked and baffled. We all make snap judgments within seconds of meeting or engaging with another in basic communication. Conversations and future exchanges are then built upon these split second evaluations of the other person. But these brain functions are confused when someone doesn’t act as we’d expect.

Last week, I had the opportunity to personally interview Douglas Bruce, Colorado State Representative from Colorado Springs. Notorious for tax limitation efforts and other limited government causes, he is more recently identified as the bad boy of the Colorado Republican Minority.

There are numerous articles on his alleged faux pas, so the incidents won’t be discussed or belabored in this article. The predominant question that Colorado conservatives are asking - is he working for us or against us? (Full interview available under separate post - see transcript)

In conversing with Representative Bruce for over an hour, I was struck by the fact that he solidly believes he is fighting for the people – regardless of his unorthodox and politically incorrect antics. Despite the negative episodes so oft in the press, he has no regrets, makes no apologies and considers himself “compulsively truthful”. When asked about his I.Q, he wouldn’t disclose the number, but joked that he dropped out of Mensa “because it bored him.” Brilliant, but lacking social skills, he’s been coined “the dumbest smart guy” in the capitol, idiot savant if you will. No disrespect intended – the term idiot savant was commonly used fifty years ago to describe someone…well, someone exactly like Bruce. Exceptional talent, remarkable ability, incredible competence and aptitude, but greatly suffers on the practical side of life and is challenged by even the most basic relational communications.

Political correctness is the unwritten but theoretically understood rule for any elected official, but Doug Bruce didn’t buy into this imperative when appointed. It is expected that our representatives will have extreme social grace and stately savvy but what If one doesn’t have charm-school manners? Can we accept a political “savant”? One who is extraordinary in matters of policy, history and law, but otherwise inept at social interactions and the practical and formal decorum of an elected office?

When an individual’s behavior doesn’t make sense, or when actions don’t follow an expected pattern, humans tend to search for the reason. In Bruce’s case, there’s a simple answer. He is committed to a cause higher than social skills and he doesn’t care what other people think of him. Although Doug Bruce struggles with societal mores and even some basic quid pro quo interactions, he is faithfully committed to limited government. That trumps all other matters in his mind. To him, etiquette is irrelevant because he is pursuing a higher cause. “I think I’m helping the Pro-American cause. I’d like to get the Republicans back in the fight. I’m helping them focus on principles – we should focus on doing what’s right…not whether we are liked or whether we can win a popularity contest.”

To answer the question posed initially – is he working for the republicans or against them? There will be as many opinions and predictions as there are stars in the sky – and only time will tell. What seems unfit and inexcusable to others is what makes Doug Bruce the man he is – a walking dichotomy. One thing is certain…”Representative Savant” doesn’t care what anyone else thinks and is therefore emotionally sheltered from judgment and criticism… the precise traits that allow him to wage war against taxes and big government without hesitation or concern.

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