There's that word again: maverick. Used in Thursday's Vice-Presidential debate, by Gov. Sarah Palin six times to describe herself and her running mate, Senator John McCain, who she described as "the consummate maverick." But where does the term come from and what does it mean?
According to John Schwartz' New York Times article, it's a name that belongs t0 a family with proud progressive political roots that date back to the 1600's in Boston, and to the 1800's in Texas, where the family now lives. And apparently one member of the Maverick family, Terralitta Maverick is pretty disgusted that John McCain and Sarah Palin keep referring to themselves as mavericks. But the joke is on her. And the Times should apologize to its readers for allowing this very interesting editorial to pass for news.
Turns out that Ms. Maverick's great-grandfather was a Texas rancher who refused to brand his cattle, and it became common practice to refer to all unbranded animals as mavericks. Now Terralitta is upset because she claims that McCain has violated the family tradition by appropriating the term even though he has branded himself a Republican.
"It's just incredible -- the nerve! -- to suggest that he's not part of that Republican herd. Every time we hear it, all my children and I and all my family shrink a little and say, 'Oh, my God, he said it again.' He's a Republican," she said. "He's branded."
And she is not?
Ms. Maverick has been a board member of the San Antonio chapter of the ACLU and numerous other liberal organizations. But she seems not to consider that a brand. I guess for her, it only counts as a family tradition-violating brand when she disagrees with the politics of a particular maverick. Talk about not being a maverick!
The Times blew this, and not because I am a McCain supporter -- there are things which I admire about each candidate and things which deeply disturb me about them both as well. They blew it because anyone smart enough to write for them knows full well that there is rich irony here which demands to be pointed out. By not doing so, they allowed a potentially important piece about the fact that we are all branded in some way, to become one more editorial masquerading as news.
We all have affiliations, commitments and connections -- brands. And we all have the choice to wear our brands in unorthodox or unconventional ways, ways which allow us to reach beyond our chosen brands to those with whom we might share something, even if they wear a different brand. Whoever wants to be President better be great at doing that if we are going to get through what are shaping up to be quite challenging times for all of us, regardless of who we hope to see elected in November.
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Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 
The Mavericks were and are a great American and Texas family. They stood for freedom and individual rights and all the things embodied in the Constitution, especially in the Bill of Rights. They deserve the utmost consideration and respect.
In a way, the word "Maverick" has a second root in addition to the the one from the unbranded calves. Sort of. In the 1940 Democratic convention -- back in the days when conventions were not mere coronations but lively struggles between various factions in a party -- Maury Maverick Sr led a group of delegates in a walkout because they did not agree with several planks in the platform. They were, of course, called Maverick Democrats.
I knew Marury Jr well, through common work interests and a correspondence afterwards. So when I hear Senator McCain and Governor Palin refer to themselves over and over again as Mavericks, I'm sure poor Maury Jr is rolling over in his grave. Were he still with us I would ask him what he thought. He would probably answer in his deep Texas drawl, "Well, Ford once called one of their cars a Maverick but it pretty much did exactly what all the other Fords did."
Thanks Mike for representing my great uncle and hero so well!!
Brad, are you going to apologize?
I happened to drive a FORD Maverick for a couple of years. I didn't hear Terralita or her family protesting that FORD is using this term to sell a car. This family does not own the term Maverick which has nothing to do anymore with their family name. They should have protested at the time when this term got used by directly relating to their ancestor.
Uhm, and why are we even discussing this? Seems silly to me.
It is now Wednesday, October 15. Brad, are you going to apologize?
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