As House Republicans are "poised for a celebratory takeover of Congress next week," others are trying very hard to spoil the party.
Instead of getting ready for the festivities, Republicans find themselves fighting some very unfair accusations centered on allegations that Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana -- now the third-ranking House Republican -- knew that he was speaking to a white supremacist group a decade ago.
In all fairness, how was Scalise to know that he was speaking to such a group when they all look like you and me (well, perhaps not "me")?
How was he to know when he may have "rushed in and out of the event too quickly to realize what was up, or that he was led in to the hotel conference center blindfolded, ears plugged, and fled the scene the moment his remarks concluded," as the New Republic quips?
How was he to know when all the attendees forgot to wear their white robes and pointed hats that day?
What is a guy to do? Read up on the goals and mission of the group he is supposed to talk to?
Of course not!
It is all very partisan and unfair and Andy Borowitz writes about what seems to be an excellent way to prevent such misunderstandings in the future.
In his most recent Borowitz Report at The New Yorker, he tells us that the new House Majority Whip Steve Scalise himself is planning to introduce new legislation requiring clearer labeling of white supremacists:
The White Supremacist Labeling Act of 2015 would require white supremacists to wear 4-inch-by-6-inch name tags clearly designating them as members of an official hate group.
"Right now, it's impossible to tell the difference between neo-Nazis and collectors of WWII memorabilia," Scalise said.
The Louisiana congressman said that proper labeling for white supremacists should make it easier for lawmakers to know what kind of organizations they are addressing in the future. "Sometimes it's hard to see through all that smoke from the burning crosses," he acknowledged.
Sounds like a great idea.
But how about those so visually impaired that even such large "name tags" will appear blurred?