DNC Plays Petty Politics, Literally Takes Their Ball and Goes Home
One of the biggest issues facing the nation today is a lack of civility … but it looks like elected Democrats have no interest in changing that perception.
Apparently unable to put political differences aside for even one day, members of the liberal party are taking their ball and going home — literally.
According to a report from The Daily Caller, Democrats have unexpectedly pulled out of an annual softball game that is traditionally played between lawmakers from the two major parties as a sign of friendship.
Republicans who were looking forward to the good-natured game said they were “stunned” that liberals have canceled the much-anticipated sports competition.
“The game was an opportunity to put aside the partisan bickering and come together in friendly competition. The decade-old tradition typically ended in staffers having a drink at a nearby bar,” explained The Caller.
“All our players are out in the field this year. We won’t be able to play,” the DNC said as their excuse for ending the ballgame, according to reporter Benny Johnson.
It’s worth pointing out that despite upcoming midterm elections, the Republicans didn’t seem to have a problem fitting the friendly game into their schedules.
A congressional softball game may not seem like a big deal, but at a time when tensions are high, that kind of throwback can be an important reminder that we are all Americans who are supposed to be playing for the same team.
“After the game last year, both teams posed for a team photo where Chairwoman McDaniel and Chairman Perez stood next to each other in solidarity with Rep. Scalise, who was horrifically wounded during the shooting of a congressional Republican baseball practice by a Bernie Sanders supporter,” reported The Caller.
Twitter posts from games in years past show good-natured camaraderie between lawmakers as they ditched their suits and ties for shorts and jerseys.
“At the DNC v. RNC softball game tonight, we gathered together in honor of Steve Scalise. Keep fighting, Steve!” posted GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel in 2017.
As journalist Benny Johnson also pointed out, friendly wagers were part of the tradition. “In 2014, Sean Spicer and former DNC spox Mo Elleithee made a bet that Mo would shave his head if the DNC lost and Sean would swap Twitter avitars to the DNC logo if the RNC lost,” he wrote.
The Democrats backing out of the informal game came not long after liberal Congresswoman Maxine Waters called on Democrats to get in the faces of conservatives, and even to confront Republicans at gas stations and in restaurants. So much for civility.
Meanwhile, national polls such as Gallup show that “dissatisfaction with government / poor leadership” is one of the top national concerns of Americans.
Congressional job approval is hovering near record lows, with a shocking 77 percent of citizens saying they “disprove” of the job their own elected officials are doing.
Baseball and softball are great American pastimes because they reflect our shared values: A level playing field, a fair set of rules, and advancement based on accomplishments instead of favoritism.
It’s one thing to strongly disagree on contentious issues; it’s something else to refuse to set aside politics for a few hours out of spite. This kind of crossed-armed, pouting pettiness is exactly why the people are so fed up with government.
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