Congress STOP Performative Politics: Get Back to Business

By: Mildred Robertson

A recently published Newsweek story covered the efforts of Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to censure Representative Rashida Tlaib, (D-MI) who is Muslim, of anti-Jewish and anti-American rhetoric. She introduced a resolution on the House floor on Thursday to censure Tlaib for comments related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Freshman Representative Becca Balint (D-VT) played tit-for-tat by introducing a resolution to censure Greene for her use of "Islamophobic" rhetoric.

OMG...Legislate y'all! There are too many REAL issues facing this country for this petty bickering.

Do I agree MGT needs to be censured...absolutely, but in the scheme of things it's relatively irrelevant. Her censure or that of Tlaib would do nothing to help the economy, feed the hungry, end war, reduce the cost of medicine, care for the elderly and children, address a distressed economy, safeguard the country against insurrectionists, provide universal healthcare, decrease gun violence, improve a failing education system...and I could go on and on about the REAL challenges this country faces.

We should not overlook the fact that one of the first acts of the newly minted Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson (R-LA) was to allow Greene to bring this ridiculous resolution to the floor of the House when so many other pressing issues face this Congress and our nation. It does not bode well for any hope for bipartisan governance in the near future. We must wonder whether this Congress can pass much-needed legislation to fund the government and address international issues such as the wars in Ukraine and Palestine.

I want my legislators to LEGISLATE. Is that too much to ask? I understand Balint's desire to respond to MGT's ridiculousness, but please, don't rise to the bait. LEGISLATE.

Our nation teeters on the brink of destruction. It is up to our elected officials to pass legislation that will strengthen our economy, address social challenges, and safeguard us from attacks on our democracy. If Republicans won't get back to business, Democrats MUST.