Downgrading New York Senator Chuck Schumer and Upgrading Others
Posted: Thursday, December 17, 2009
by Jean Purcell
OpineBooks.com
The subject of national ethics and public discourse got a new injection of attention yesterday. It was reported that New York state's senior U. S. senator Charles Schumer showed strange and shocking behavior aboard a flight from here to there.
It was at first a clash of airline rules and the senator's high-tech personal communications service. Noticing the senator using a mobile phone just as the plane was being prepped for takeoff, a flight attendant told the Senator to turn off his mobile phone.
Well, when word got out, there was a lot of shock (for a few) and hoopla (from many decent folk) over the senator's arrogant behavior and crass language. There was a spread of the report in print and on broadcast and cable media. The senator's behavior shocked many people who do not know him personally. After all, on TV he always seems well put-together, in full control of himself, and even pleasant, a soft smile skating across his face now and then as he looks from side to side, habitually. I have noticed his behavior as he has stood smiling behind Harry Reid, power head of the majority part of the U. S. Senate.
A later report about the airplane incident said that Mr. Schumer had apologized to the flight attendant. Well, finally. That's some progress in turning one's self around. Chuck, as I now feel comfortable calling him, had nevertheless disgraced himself in public. He had shown some true colors unexpectedly and likely even shocked himself that he was found out. He is now out in the open as a powerful person ready to insult any authority but his own or his "kind."
I have nothing against the senator personally. Yet, I must say that this recent behavior fits with the view a majority of Americans now have of the U. S. Congress as a whole. Words like inept, arrogant, silly, pandering, arm-twisting, and foolish come to mind. These words paint all in Congress with the same brush, unfortunately; but Congress, for the most part, has earned these labels; they show little of any self-control that they, as a body, "instruct" American citizens to show.
While on this topic, it's time for accolades toward Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana and Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Your state citizens, sirs, can be proud of you for not going along with the status quo and acting sheep-like about more federal spending and laws being shaped in secret. You, sirs, are to be commended for refusing to yell "Uncle" when the arm-bending and threats come at you in Congress and from the White House and certain media outlets as well.
Mr. Schumer disgraced himself. Yet you, Senators Evan Bayh and Ben Nelson, are among the rare ones to honor the offices your fellow citizens have placed upon you, to serve them. I hope you stand firm, once decided. This flame of hope always burns. You never know who will help keep it alive, or how. Let's be grateful and cheerful that a few good men and women somehow emerge when times get roughest. People for all seasons.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Again, thanks for writing this eye opener and we need to repeat EVERYONE GET OUT AND VOTE....every chance you get. Marijo
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