Daily Herald opinion: ‘Not thinking a thing wrong’: Obvious lies about tragic events go beyond spin, disqualify leaders

It happened to be founding father Thomas Paine's 289th birthday on Thursday, and in the midst of the controversies regarding Minneapolis swirling around us, we stumbled across these words that resonate as poignantly today as long ago when Paine delivered them: “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.”

Most politicians spin. We get that, and we hope, although sadly without a lot of corroboration, that most members of the public recognize spin when they hear it. And politics is a nasty business. We get that too, although it seems like it has grown so much nastier in recent years.

Still, even if we accept those acts (and we do not): Our political leaders have fundamental obligations, and one of those obligations is a reverence for the humanity in us all.

All of us as Americans agree with that, don't we? It seems like a minimal expectation. Not a very high bar. Human decency. We can disagree about approaches and priorities and policy, but no one should lead us who does not cherish that sense of humanity. We care about people. We try to lift them up. We care about Americans. We don't abuse them.

That is a fundamental expectation for public service.

As the midterm primary elections approach, let all of us remember that as we evaluate the candidates seeking our votes, regardless of party. Do they share that fundamental reverence for the humanity in us all, a reverence for humanity that reaches beyond politics or partisanship?

You do not have to be a defender of Renee Good to feel that her death on Jan. 7 by gunfire from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent was a tragedy that calls out for investigation. You do not have to be a defender of Alex Pretti to feel that his death on Jan. 24 by gunfire from Border Protection agents was a tragedy that calls out for investigation.

It does not matter whether you agree with their protests. It does not matter what you think about their judgment. It does not matter, ultimately, whether you find them likable. They were human beings, Americans whose lives were taken by the state in circumstances that at the very least raise questions over whether their shootings were unwarranted excess. At the very least.

On the evening of Good's death, Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, expressed no recognition of any of this. Instead, she said Good had committed “an act of domestic terrorism.”

Noem had no basis for saying that. Video recordings provide not even a hint of it.

On the afternoon of Pretti's death, Noem said he “attacked our officers wishing harm on these officers, brandishing a weapon like that.” Responding to questions, she said Pretti had “committed an act of domestic terrorism.”

Again, Noem had no basis for saying that. Video recordings suggested none of it.

Reasonable people can debate Noem’s performance as a cabinet secretary. In a country deeply polarized, different sides offer different evaluations. But the lack of humanitarian obligation implicit in those politicized misrepresentations is disqualifying.

Disqualifying.

America requires better moral leadership than this.

Noem is not the only member of this administration to echo such callous misrepresentations. But she is an example Congress ought not abide. Numerous members, from both parties, have with good cause already said as much.

It is time for her to go.

By itself, of course, Noem’s departure would not eradicate the similar cruel misrepresentation that others too have expressed. But it would send a powerful signal that humanity is expected from them, that a leadership position in America requires better than this.

“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.”

It is wrong to spread spurious defamations of the forlorn dead.

Wrong. And disqualifying.