Yes, Virginia, Congress should focus on big issues, not McDermott and Christmas
Mon, 12/24/2007
When I read about U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott's "vote against Christmas," my immediate reaction was, "Oh, oh, here comes another Ralph Nichols rant."
Sure enough, the lead item in his next column ran under the headline, "Time for McDermott to leave after disrespecting Christmas, Christians."
McDermott had voted against a resolution to recognize the importance of Christmas and Christianity. Previously, he had supported resolutions recognizing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the festival of Diwali, observed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.
Well, I suppose McDermott could have gone with the flow and voted for the resolution along with 372 other lawmakers.
But Ralph did not report McDermott's explanation for his vote.
The Congressman said the Christmas resolution was designed to shift attention away from the big issues Congress is grappling with. McDermott noted he was protesting against the resolution's sponsor who had voted against adding funding to the state children's health insurance program.
So the story is another example of conservative pundits scrounging around to find obscure examples of what they consider wacky political correctness gone amuck
Then sidetracked liberals end up talking about how McDermott is a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral and a graduate of a private Christian college in Illinois so we are sure he is in favor of Christmas
Yes, Virginia, there is a Christmas.
But instead of worrying about Congress supporting Christmas, little Virginia should be more concerned that Republican lawmakers with the veto threat of President Bush are blocking the elected Democratic majority's efforts to expand health care to more children.
Rather than losing sleep over a supposed war on Christmas, Virginia might have nightmares about a war against the middle class.
Virginia's parents, who go to work every day and play by the rules, are making 33 times more than average wage-earners did in 1967. But the CEOs at her parents' companies are making 1,700 times more than CEOs did 40 years ago.
Even Virginia understands the boss makes more money than the workers. But what is fair? 100 times more? 150 times more? Under Bush, the average CEO is making 300 to 400 percent more than most of his employees.
Healthy kids, family-wage jobs, and getting our troops out of harm's way in Iraq are the kinds of things our elected representatives should be focused on, not symbolic resolutions on Ramadan, Diwali or Christmas.
The second half of Ralph's column brought the shocking news that Highline's all-Democratic legislative contingent fared poorly on a conservative group's vote scorecard.
I remember when Highline legislative races were competitive with close elections between Democrats and Republicans.
One nail-biter pitted Democratic incumbent Georgette Valle against future conservative talk-show host John Carlson.
Speaking of Georgette, news from the land of snowbirds is that the 83-year-old Valle is planning to run for the Arizona senate. Georgette served 24 years in the Washington Legislature. She also was Burien's deputy mayor.
The Green Valley News quotes the intrepid Valle as declaring, "I've got two steel knees and two steel hips. I'm in better health than when I left Washington."
Go get 'em, Georgette.
Anyway, back here in rainy Highline, a conservative group's ratings are pretty much irrelevant.
And now it appears that the blue wave of Democratic politics is sweeping Puget Sound's Eastside.
Rep. Fred Jarrett of Mercer Island just defected to the Democrats, adding to the party's massive majority in the upcoming legislative session.
Jarrett's switch means GOP lawmakers represent only the most remote rural areas of the Eastside.
The new Democrats are former moderate Dan Evans Republicans-pro-business and wary of government.
They've made a bundle of money and they don't like paying taxes.
But they want a first-rate public education system. After all, it was a great education that allowed some to become Microsoft millionaires. And they understand you pay for what you get.
Also finding themselves constantly stuck in traffic gridlock, they understand that time is money. Our long-delayed traffic problems must be addressed.
Like any renovation, it takes money.
The current approach of the state Republican Party to "just say no" to taxes doesn't fly in the suburbs.
As former state Republican Party chairman Chris Vance laments, the Republicans have to "learn to speak cul-de-sac."
Eric Mathison can be reached at ericm@robinsonnews.com or 206-388-1855.