An Object Lesson in How the Media Rewards the Worst Rhetorical Impulses in Politicians
MINOT, N.D. — Tuesday, at 11:49 am Central Standard Time, Sen. Kevin Cramer, one of disgraced former President Donald Trump‘s staunchest allies, sent out a news release.
It was timed for the beginning of the Senate’s trial of Trump based on impeachment articles passed last month by the U.S. House, which accuse him, accurately, of inciting a violent effort to stop the peaceful transition of power to the Biden administration.
“Welcome to the stupidest week in the Senate!” Cramer’s statement proclaimed, going on to describe the process as “disgusting.”
It was a juvenile jab — a provocative quip. As I wrote yesterday, there’s nothing “stupid” about Congress exercising its constitutional authority to consider disciplining the president after his supporters attacked the legislative body.
Kevin Cramer is not a dumb man. I’ve interviewed him more times than I can recount and can say he is a very intelligent person with about as firm a grasp on the nuances of public policy as anyone who serves in Congress.
