In New Mexico, thirty-nine year old failed MAGA Republican candidate Solomon Peña paid four men to shoot at Democratic lawmakers’ homes. The New Mexico Republican Party said “if Peña is guilty, he must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
In New York, serial liar George Santos conned his way into the House of Representatives, repeatedly fabricating his family, religious, education and work history. House Leader Kevin McCarthy insisted, “If there is something that rises to the occasion that [Santos] did something wrong then we’ll deal with that at that time.”
There is much to be said about the power of “if.” It is being used by Republicans as a way to give grace even to the lowest of Republican politicians. “If” offers an escape; “If” the conditions are right, we will act. Until then, as McCarthy also states, “You know, in America today, you’re innocent until proven guilty.” No “if” there. Would that McCarthy and his fellow Republicans were as generous with their “ifs”, as generous with that grace, when it comes to Democrats…to Hunter Biden and his laptop and Hillary Clinton and her emails. “If” should be universal, for all the people. If Republicans bestow a generous “if” on their Republican brethren, they should show that grace, that “if” to all. Not just to Democrats in the realm of national politics, but also to the everyday folks of every color, gender, orientation and religion. To have that faith in one another, to be willing to give the benefit of the doubt, to truly believe innocent until, that would allow us the space and the grace to bridge gaps and cross divides, to allow the benefits of communication and compromise. It would be a major step to create and maintain a political system that, instead of trying to sink opposition, rather seeks to raise all boats for the benefit of all the people. That shouldn’t be if. It should be when and now.