Peter King, the New York Republican, announced Monday he wouldn’t run for reelection in 2020. That’s a good thing for the House Democrats. One more possible pick up. On hearing the news, Chuck Schumer, also from New York, wrote this:

Peter King stood head & shoulders above everyone else

He’s been principled & never let others push him away from his principles

He’s fiercely loved America, Long Island, and his Irish heritage and left a lasting mark on all 3

I will miss him in Congress & value his friendship https://t.co/GSXizZ2c5D

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 11, 2019

Now it’s true that King is a ghoul. As Will Bunch wrote, he “blamed Eric Garner for his death at the hands of cops, saying he was ‘obese’; compared NFL kneeling protests to ‘Nazi salutes’”; and was a “leader in promoting Islamophobia.” This is indisputable.

But it’s one thing to blast a foe. It’s another to blast a friend. Bunch and many, many others piled onto Schumer with their bile and condemnation, demanding he delete his benediction. It’s the latest example of myopic behavior on the part of liberals and progressives. What’s the greater goal? Defeating the Republicans or killing ourselves.

Killing ourselves if Schumer’s tweet is any indication.

Seriously, King is from New York City. So is Schumer. Do liberals and progressives really believe Schumer doesn’t know King is a ghoul? He was saying nice things because that’s what you say when someone from the other side can’t hack it anymore. That’s what you say when your party, the Democrats, might benefit from his departure.

To be sure, Schumer might have been white-washing King’s sadism, as if by tipping his hat he was condoning his race-baiting. But I think Schumer made the right choice. He could have gloated. He would have danced on King’s political grave. He didn’t because at the very least that would look terrible to statewide constituents. He said something nice because that’s what voters expect from United States Senators.

Liberals ought to know that. Actually, they’re smart. They do know that.

Yet they are killing themselves over etiquette of all things.

—John Stoehr

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More

• Today’s Editorial Board: “Trump’s Interests Are Not America’s”

• At least 1,680 dams could break, according to the AP. (A must-read.)

• Hate crimes against Latinos are surging, the LA Times reports.

• The SPLC obtained a cache of emails showing Stephen Miller’s yen for fascism.

• Naveed Jamali reminds us that the Cold War never ended for Russia.

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POLITICS IN PLAIN ENGLISH!

This is a civics program I co-host every month at New Haven’s Institute Library. The next one is on Nov. 12 (TONIGHT!). Special guests include Frank Harris, columnist for the Hartford Courant and a professor of journalism at Southern Connecticut State University; and Batya Ungar-Sargon, opinion editor for The Forward in New York.

We’re going to talk about a lot of things but especially religion, race and politics.

Please come if you can. I’d love to see you there! —JS

IF YOU GO

What: Politics in Plain English
When: Nov. 12 (TONIGHT!) at 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Institute Library, 847 Chapel Street, New Haven.
How much: FREE! FREE! FREE!
Info: For more, click here.

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