The one thing I hope to never be is a political slappy. Someone who is either incapable of criticizing their own political party or genuinely believes it is beyond reproach.
Slappy may not be the best word for it. Perhaps a better word would be a political idolater. Again, in this case, meaning that the Republican Party can do no wrong, therefore Republicans can do no wrong. Because no matter how wrong a Republican may be, they’ll never be quite as wrong as a Democrat.
That, my friends, is the definition of being a fool.
So, on Wednesday, while political hacks (for lack of a better term) were all pumping up the story about Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks being fined for not wearing a mask on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, I was out here in the cheap seats thinking, “OK, but can we talk about how she voted with Nancy Pelosi and every Republican who voted in support of impeachment to create a Jan. 6 commission?”
I mean, Miller-Meeks didn’t wear a mask on the floor of the U.S. House. Cool. How did that have any impact on your life?
Hint: It did not.
Now, she has done some things that have impacted your life.
Remember, originally Miller-Meeks was listed as one of the freshmen who signed a letter urging Pelosi to investigate the 2020 Presidential Election fraud claims. But then she denied signing that letter and made sure publicly people knew her name was removed from that list.
Then, on Jan. 6, she, like the rest of her Iowa colleagues, voted to certify the presidential election results.
Then, in early February, she voted for Liz Cheney to retain her leadership position.
Then, a couple of days ago, she voted with Nancy Pelosi and every Republican who voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump to create a Jan. 6 commission similar to the 9-11 commission.
So, forgive me if my give a darn doesn’t extend to her political charade of not wearing a mask on the House floor and I care more about the aforementioned votes.
Folks, we can’t be surface-deep Republicans. We have to educate ourselves on the people who run to represent us. We have to hold our GOP representatives to at least the same standard as our Democrat representatives, if not maybe slightly higher.
We have to care more about policy than theater.
This isn’t Iowa vs. Iowa State, Cubs vs. Cardinals, Yankees vs. Red Sox.
Politics isn’t just some cute rivalry game.
What happens in the political arena is actually life-changing. It actually matters (no offense fellow sports fans). It actually impacts our everyday life.
So Miller-Meeks was fined for not wearing a mask on the House floor. Yes, that is stupid.
But you know what’s even more stupid? Overlooking some of her policy decisions and her voting record in favor of some facade of a strong conservative find for not wearing a mask.
