Bickering, shouting and name-calling in the political arena may make for good TV ratings or fundraising, but events of the past week are a terrible reminder that some people take this bruising rhetoric to heart.
Last week’s tragedy in Virginia — targeting Republican representatives practicing for an interparty baseball game — became a catalyst for unity. America cannot lose hold of this important moment of civility. Resorting to the status quo of partisan attacks will only deepen the divisions that fostered this attack.
Instead, members of Congress must change the tenor of our politics on the floor of the House and Senate when they’re legislating the issues that impact all Americans.The men and women we elect to represent us have a very serious and difficult job crafting complex policies across an innumerable set of issues. They must understand and act upon everything from tax laws, to defense spending, to environmental programs and the best ways to fund and enhance infrastructure and your child’s education, among other areas.
At the same time, we expect them to answer constituent calls and requests and to return home regularly so we can speak with them at town halls, ribbon cuttings and policy forums. They do all of this work in the public eye — where one misstep, one wrong word gets echoed across the airwaves and the internet almost before it has time to be heard.
Read more at The Hill
