The Disturbing Example Men in Politics are Showing Our Boys
Okay listen, I don’t think political figures are really the best place for kids to be looking for role models (I mean, look around) but my God have there been some horrendous displays of disturbing behavior lately that I must address before my head explodes.
Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. A day – that I always remember growing up – was spent exchanging valentine’s treat with classmates, and then coming home to see flowers galore that my dad bought for my mom. My dad is a class act. He’s a manly man who isn’t afraid to admit his heart beats for the woman he married over 30 years ago (as it should… my mom is pretty fantastic).
Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) had a different take on the holiday yesterday. In a video posted to his official campaign account with 51.8k followers, he states “Folks, I believe that love is the answer, but you oughta own a handgun just in case.” The video slowly pans outward as he cleans his revolver.
I get it is supposed to be cheeky, if you’re into firearm comedy… which as a pediatrician who has cared for more kids with bullet-holes in them than I’d like to count, I am decidedly not into firearm comedy.
But I’ve also cared for so many victims of domestic violence as a pediatrician, and Sen. Kennedy represents a state that ranks 5th in murders of women by men.
Maybe I’m a triggered lib for thinking about his 12 second clip, but shouldn’t we care about this? Shouldn’t we care that 103,000+ people liked a video making a joke about domestic violence? I think we should care. I think we have to care. And we need to demand better too. I hope not many children saw that video, and I hope it went over the heads of a few who did, but kids are so stinkin’ smart, so I doubt it.