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Congressman’s death prompts bipartisan tributes

  • Russ Walker
A gavel is left ontop of the House Oversight Committee Chairman's seat that is draped in black cloth honoring Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. Cummings past away earlier this morning.

 (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

A gavel is left ontop of the House Oversight Committee Chairman's seat that is draped in black cloth honoring Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. Cummings past away earlier this morning.

JOIN US NEXT WEEK: StateImpact Pennsylvania and WITF are holding a free event with Smart Talk’s Scott LaMar. Attendees will get a preview screening of “RETRO REPORT on PBS” and hear expert panel discussion on current environmental challenges in the Commonwealth. Video clips from the national series will be paired with local clips produced by other member stations also taking part in the RETRO REPORT project. WHEN: Wednesday, October 23 from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the WITF Public Media Center in Harrisburg. RSVP details are here.

‘There’s got to be a better way’

(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

A gavel is left ontop of the House Oversight Committee Chairman’s seat that is draped in black cloth honoring Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. Cummings past away earlier this morning. (AP Photo)

A well-functioning democracy requires attention. And participation.”

Wisdom from John Baer, the veteran political reporter and columnist whose work is now featured at PennLive.

Baer wrote those words in his most recent column, which was about how we elect presidents in our country … and his fear that the messy process involved is turning citizens away from paying much attention at all.

Bad things happen when people stop participating, though Baer didn’t put the blame on lazy voters. He noted just how awful politics is today. Competing shout-fests on the cable networks. Insults hurled on social media by lawmakers, vitriol aimed at fellow lawmakers and voters alike.

Thursday was somewhat of a reprieve. Sad word came overnight that Elijah Cummings, the Baltimore congressman who rose to the top ranks of congressional Democrats, passed away at the still-young age of 68.

The tributes to Cummings poured in, and not just from his colleagues on the blue side of the aisle. Trey Gowdy is conservative Republican from South Carolina. He poured his admiration for Cummings into a powerful series of Tweets. Here’s one: “We never had a cross word outside of a committee room. He had a unique ability to separate the personal from the work. The story of Elijah’s life would benefit everyone, regardless of political ideation.”

Mark Meadows, the North Carolina congressman who is the leader of the Freedom Caucus in the House, tweeted: “There was no stronger advocate and no better friend than Elijah Cummings. I am heartbroken for his wonderful family and staff—please pray for them. I will miss him dearly.”

Pennsylvania Republicans Lloyd SmuckerJohn JoyceBrian FitzpatrickGlenn Thompson, and Fred Keller joined most of the commonwealth’s Democratic members of Congress in expressing condolences.

John Baer finished his column listing all that is bad in politics today: “The overwhelming, too often discordant, volume of the Trump presidency, the annoyance of performance politics masquerading as legitimate debate, widespread distrust of media, some of it driven by media devotion to click-bait and ratings, and the poisonous influence of Twitter and its ilk.”

“None of this is helpful,” Baer concluded. “There’s got to be a better way.”

Indeed.

Vigorous disagreement plays an important role in our politics. And not to sound naïve or Pollyannaish, but maybe the “better way” starts with this: Make time to connect with people from the “other side.” Our democracy may depend on it. – Russ Walker, PA Post executive editor

Best of the rest

  • Two interesting articles on the topic of reparations for descendants of American slaves. The Post-Gazette reports that the Pittsburgh City Council heard testimony this week from residents who “want an official apology and a reparations package from the city … including land and cash.” Plenty of people argue that slavery was so long ago, what’s the case for reparations? Inquirer columnist Jenice Armstrong says a new movie biopic of Harriet Tubman could prompt many people to reassess their views on race and reparations.

  • Back to our theme about political polarization … F&M’s Terry Madonna spoke about the topic to an audience in Wyomissing on Wednesday. “These political divisions had started to emerged long before Trump but there is no doubt that his election heightened the polarization,” he told the gathering of the World Affairs Council of Greater Reading. “It escalated from Republicans and Democrats not liking each other to Republicans and Democrats not trusting each other. How are you supposed to work with someone who don’t like and, more importantly, that you don’t trust.” Madonna said things might not get any better anytime soon. Read Karen Shuey’s story for The Reading Eagle.

  • Spotlight PA’s Charlotte Keith and PA Post’s Ed Mahon were on Smart Talk on Thursday to talk about their recent reporting on opportunity zones in Pennsylvania. Listen to the Smart Talk segment here.

  • Congratulations to Rep. Mike Kelly! The GOP congressman from the 16th district was named a “2019 Beer Champion” by the Beer Institute. Kelly and his fellow champions “were selected for their leadership in championing policies that allow brewers and beer importers to reinvest in their businesses, hire new employees and continue to innovate and create America’s favorite beers.” Cheers!


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