Last updated on September 25th, 2023 at 02:45 pm
Lucky for Republicans, God is always on their side. They get the right to rule directly from the will of God, as if there were no Constitution at all. God tells them who is forgiven and who is not and no one questions them, because divine authority trumps the law.
Republican leadership, only informed yesterday of Representative Trey Radel’s (R-FLA) October arrest for buying an 8 ball of cocaine, have already decided that God has forgiven Radel and thus, they get to keep his seat.
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
There is no need for them to punish Radel or take a stand for law and order, or set an example in the very state where this same Representative voted to drug test food stamp recipients. Apparently food stamp recipients are not Chosen by God for forgiveness. (Someone really needs to update Jesus on this because last I heard, he was feeding the poor.)
“He is a hard-working, good legislator and I hope that he makes the right decision for him, for his family and his district,” Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FLA) said according to the Washington Post. “I don’t presume what is best for him. Other members have gotten in trouble. There but for the grace of God go all of us – perfect only God. I’m careful not to cast stones, because I live in a glass house as all of us do.”
FYI, in GOP talk, the “all of us” does not apply to food stamp recipients. Those of you who throw stones at the poor, please continue.
Speaker Boehner won’t be asking Radel to resign because the GOP can’t afford to lose any seats, so he took refuge in the courts according to Politico. Boehner informed the media that this matter was up to Radel’s family, the courts and his constituents, and Republican leadership Eric Cantor and Kevin McCarthy agreed. “This is an unfortunate time for Congressman Radel and his family,” a McCarthy aide told Politico. “He’s admitted he has done wrong and is seeking treatment.”
Radel himself blamed alcoholism for his purchase of cocaine and asked for prayers like a good repentant sinner, “In facing this charge, I realize the disappointment my family, friends and constituents must feel. Believe me, I am disappointed in myself, and I stand ready to face the consequences of my actions. Please keep my family in your prayers.” Well played, sir. The American public always falls for the repentant sinner.
Republicans have neatly framed this issue as having nothing to do with Radel’s job or their jobs as leaders by constantly referencing family and God. He’s admitted his sin and now it’s out of our hands! Don’t judge, media — that’s God’s job.
The constant references to his family is meant to shame the media into backing off because times are tough right now for Radel and he has a FAMILY. A sacred, traditional family. He is a sinner seeking redemption. If you pick on him by suggesting that maybe he shouldn’t be a lawmaker since he BROKE THE LAW, you’re not good at forgiving like Jesus wants you to be, and you hate his family.
The truth is, Republicans can’t afford to have any standards because they can’t afford to lose a seat. As always, they will tolerate any kind of ethical breach, law breaking and/or cheating on spouse and justify it with God’s authority. This works with the approval seeking media. They are easily shamed by Republican claims of righteousness.
It’s always politics first with the “law and order” party, and when God can conveniently forgive your party members a lot sooner than She/He forgives Democrats, it’s easy to look away when a freshman is caught buying drugs while the party incorrectly profiles poor hungry people as unworthy “drug abusers”. The Party can stand tall and claim they are only targeting poor people because of their “moral obligation” to stop the illegal use of drugs, but when one of their own lawmakers is caught with an 8 ball of cocaine, it’s all “don’t throw stones at the sinner”.
The God forgives me narrative is used by all Republicans caught in a scandal – it’s how they kept then Governor and now Representative Mark Sanford (R-SC) around after he abandoned his post and his family to hang with his mistress in Argentina. According to Republicans, God loves Republicans and luckily for them, the media buys this God card. It even gets white Trey Radel out of hot water for a cocaine bust.
Ain’t that a miracle.
Image: ABC News
Listen to Sarah on the PoliticusUSA Pod on The Daily newsletter podcast here.
Sarah has been credentialed to cover President Barack Obama, then VP Joe Biden, 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and exclusively interviewed Speaker Nancy Pelosi multiple times and exclusively covered her first home appearance after the first impeachment of then President Donald Trump.
Sarah is two-time Telly award winning video producer and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Connect with Sarah on Post, Mastodon @PoliticusSarah@Journa.Host, & Twitter.
