The historic freefall now taking place in the House of Representatives is a needless, self-inflicted political wound that only serves to distract our representatives and the nation at large from the extremely real crises facing America.
Rather than focus on the open borders that are transforming our nation's cities into migrant camps, we are engaged in recriminations and intraparty personal feuds. Rather than tackle a crippling debt now more than $34 trillion, we witnessed a political drama selecting a new Speaker of the House. Rather than advance American energy independence, we heard claims that abandoning Ukraine -- America's forward base in Europe to protect us from battling on US soil -- would somehow improve US national security. Instead of confronting anyone trying to steal the results of the next presidential election, we are engaged in recriminations and arguments about people forcing other people to have babies they do not want (for those women who do want babies, no one is stopping them). When did the government decide that a woman's private parts, let alone a lifelong responsibility for another person, were part of its mandate?
Some topics are not the business of the republic. Squabbling will not protect the integrity of the ballot box. Chaos will not rescue a democracy that is under assault by foreign governments hostile to America's role as the leader of the free world.
This is a calamity, a distraction from the genuine and challenges that will determine America's standing in the world for the century.
Many politicians appear content to watch this descent into political turmoil. No surprise: they probably figure that these distractions work to their advantage. They must be thinking, not without justification, that if all these elected officials are engaged in a needless ideological "circular firing squad," so much the better. It means they are bound to lose focus on the truly important issues that will chart our future, thereby allowing themselves to set the agenda.
Many politicians of both parties seem to have forgotten the instruction offered by President Ronald Reagan: "Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican" (or, for Democrats, Democrat). Many politicians also do not remember a California colleague of Reagan's, Gaylord Parkinson, who served as that state's GOP chairman, who similarly warned, "Henceforth, if any Republican has a grievance against another, that grievance is not to be bared publicly."
If America is to have a proud and dynamic future worthy of our forefathers, many in the House might recognize the most serious threats to our republic involve who will be the next occupant of the White House -- and secure America's standing in the world.
In every election, our enemies, both foreign and domestic, know they have been presented with an irresistible opportunity to redirect history.
Lawrence Kadish serves on the Board of Governors of Gatestone Institute.
Eric Hodgdon