Politics Too Often Is Personal

Politics often becomes personal and it often can be ugly to watch.The last few weeks we have witnessed the results of personal politics in the numerous votes to elect a Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

How did we end up with this public spectacle? Matt Gaetz did not like Speaker McCarthy. Who knows why? Gaetz has had allegations made against him regarding his personal life. There is an ongoing investigation of Gaetz by the House Ethics Committee. Gaetz has reportedly been upset 

with McCarthy for not squashing the investigation even though the investigation started prior to McCarthy becoming Speaker. 

Because Gaetz dislikes McCarthy, he throws a hand grenade into the political system by persuading 8 Republicans to join him in removing McCarthy as Speaker. Sadly, chaos has followed this action and the public is slowly tiring of watching the Republicans look like the 3 Stooges. 

First Congressman Scalise was rejected by Republicans as Speaker because many Congressmen disliked him.

Next in line was Jim Jordan who has irritated many Congressmen  on his way to the top. I am reminded of the saying; “be careful how you treat people when you are climbing the ladder because you may meet them again when you are on the way down.”

Many of the more conservative Congressmen have worked against moderate Republicans in the past. The moderates took it personally and turned the tables on Jordan’s quest for Speaker of the House. The moderates and many conservatives believed that electing Jordan would have emboldened Gaetz who represents the worst of the Republican party. 

I am reminded of the Michael Corleone quote from The Godfather: “It’s not personal, it’s strictly business.”

In politics it seems everything is personal. 

Eventually, we will elect a Speaker of the House. It will probably be someone who has not attacked too many of his fellow Republicans. Hopefully that person will emphasize the need to put personal feelings aside and focus on the Democrats.

The Democrats are very vulnerable as several of their members have been publicly supporting the Hamas terrorists. If Republicans can unite and focus their political fire on the Democrats, we might be able to convince the public that the Republicans are able to  govern.

Sadly the spectacle of the last three weeks has led many independents to believe that lunatics like Matt Gaetz are in charge of the Republican party. That could lead to a Democratic victory a year from now. 

The Republicans need to remember that it is not personal but rather “strictly business”. We have a lot of business to take up in order to convince Americans that we should be in charge of Congress.

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