Political Pugilism
At least they’re not assassinating each other on the legislative floor, the way political foes sometimes did in the ancient Roman empire. But still . . .
Tensions were simmering in the Alabama Senate. Then tempers were flaring. Republican State Senator Charles Bishop says he heard Democratic State Senator Lowell Barron, chairman of the rules committee, call him a “son of a” something or other. Barron denies it.
No question what Bishop did. There’s a video of the punch. And Bishop later admitted, “I responded to his comment with my right hand.” He also said, “that’s not the way grown people solve problems. It shouldn’t have happened out there.” But then he also said, “If he calls me that again, it’ll happen again.”
So far Barron has declined to press charges. It would be within his rights. The Alabama blog Between the Links says we must resist the temptation to punch those who call us names.
On the other hand, the bums shouldn’t be calling each other names, either. Maybe just suspend both of these big boys. Like schools suspend kids for carrying paper scissors or tugging somebody’s pigtail. Zero tolerance. None of this “He started it!” nonsense.
Actually, I sympathize with the desire of politicians to call each other names and punch each other out. But it is just not conducive to the civility required to decide how best to stick it to the taxpayer. Can’t let anything interfere with that crucial process, now can we?
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
