Editorial: Political turkeys in DC don’t deserve to be pardoned
In a festive nod to a longstanding Thanksgiving tradition, President Donald Trump pardoned two North Carolina turkeys, Gobble and Waddle, from their fateful journey to the dinner table. However, amidst the holiday cheer, a darker narrative unfolded on Capitol Hill, where the government shutdown left millions of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in a precarious position. As lawmakers debated the budget, the implications of their inaction loomed large, with families facing the very real threat of food assistance cuts during a season typically associated with gratitude and abundance. Massachusetts Congresswoman Katherine Clark’s controversial statement highlighted the political maneuvering at play, as she acknowledged that while many families would suffer, the shutdown provided a rare opportunity to leverage political power.
The government shutdown, which threatened to extend beyond Thanksgiving, underscored a troubling trend of dysfunction in Washington, where partisan politics often overshadow the needs of constituents. Lawmakers from both parties failed to fulfill their responsibilities, allowing a budget impasse to escalate into a crisis that affected countless American families. While some, like Senate Majority Leader John Thune, sought to mitigate the fallout by proposing legislation to ensure military service members received pay, the overall response from Congress was characterized by finger-pointing and partisan bickering. This disconnect between the realities faced by everyday Americans and the insulated lives of politicians in Washington raises critical questions about accountability and representation.
As the nation looks ahead, the focus shifts to upcoming battles over health care costs and the extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, which are set to expire soon. With the recent government shutdown serving as a cautionary tale, voters are urged to reflect on the performance of their elected officials and consider the need for change. The lesson is clear: when it comes to governance, the stakes are high, and the consequences of inaction can leave vulnerable populations, like SNAP recipients, in dire straits. As the holiday season progresses, it is essential for constituents to hold their representatives accountable and ensure that their voices are heard, lest they find themselves on the receiving end of another political turkey trot.
President Donald Trump continued a Thanksgiving tradition Tuesday, pardoning North Carolina turkeys Gobble and Waddle from a roasted fate.
But there are other turkeys on Capitol Hill who do not deserve to be let off the hook, not by the president, and not by taxpayers.
Chief among them are the Democratic lawmakers who dragged their heels on ending the recent government shutdown as food benefits for millions of SNAP recipients hung in the balance.
As families in need panicked ahead of a food assistance delay or cutoff, Mass. Congresswoman Katherine Clark said “of course there will be families that are going to suffer, but it is one of the few leverage times we have.”
Clark may have said it, but she wasn’t the only DC lawmaker in line with that way of thinking.
Some in Washington even speculated that the shutdown would extend past Thanksgiving, which is something to keep in mind as you slice into that turkey tomorrow. If those lawmakers had been right, those keen to use looming hunger as “leverage” would be tucking into a feast as constituents went hungry.
But the Democrats are far from alone in turkey-town. Both sides of the aisle failed in their sworn duty to keep the country running and the government functioning. Our history of shutdowns and their impact should have informed our representatives of what the worst-case scenario looked like, yet they let a spending bill showdown turn into another nightmare.
The Beltway is our nation’s turkey pen, and the leaders who work and reside within are far too removed from the lives of their constituents. They return to their home districts and states during campaign season, certainly, but life inside the bubble is the comfort zone of choice.
They are insulated from struggle, and the government shutdown which sent families reeling from missed paychecks and lack of benefits didn’t affect them the same way, if all all. It was partisan politics, bickering and finger-pointing as usual.
There are some exceptions, those who called out the looming SNAP disaster, missed paychecks and shuttered services as the fiascos they were.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, for example, proffered legislation to pay more than 1 million military service members during the government shutdown.
But the turkeys of partisan party politics had the main character energy.
The focus is now on the extension of ACA tax credits, the point of contention between Democrats and Republicans who fought over kicking the can down the road as the program is set to expire next month. Trump has talked of a plan to address health care costs, which are astronomical even for those with insurance through their employers.
The cost of health care is likely Washington’s next big fight, and the way Congress acquitted itself so poorly during the shutdown does not bode well for Americans looking for real relief.
DC pols should use the shutdown as a teachable moment in how not to handle negotiations. Voters should use the shutdown as a teachable moment in which turkeys need to be voted out.
Editorial cartoon by Chip Bok (Creators Syndicate)
