People don’t think before they speak

Here we go again.

It should be funny because it’s just so ridiculous. And while we often laugh off the offensive remarks, there is also a predictable reaction cycle of statement, denial, clarification, and insincere apology that isn’t very funny at all.

Republican leaders now act more quickly to denounce embarrassing remarks and with each episode they seem to escalate faster from polite criticism to harsh rebuke. But there is little public questioning of why many elected Republicans are so careless with their words or what the party is doing to address this internal disaster.

Last week presented two examples, one from afar and one from just down the road. Both men are state representatives who seemingly represent local demographics and political thought.

First up, Indiana Representative Bob Morris, R-Fort Wayne. In February 2012, Rep. Morris sent a letter to each member of the “Republic Caucus” in his state explaining why he declined to sign a resolution recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the Girl Scouts of America.

He cited “abundant evidence” (although he never provided any) that the Girl Scouts have adopted the “agenda” of Planned Parenthood and urged his colleagues to join him in his quest to deny “legitimacy to a radicalized organization.” He complained that the Girl Scouts promoted mostly “feminists, lesbians or communists” as role models.

Last week Rep. Morris finally made it to the insincere apology stage, saying he did regret the fact the letter had reached the public as he intended it only as advisory notice to his legislative colleagues.

Nevada had its own embarrassing episode of “say what you really think, deny you said it, then clarify what you said, and apologize, sort-of” last week when a videotape of a meeting of a Republican club in Virginia City revealed startling statements by Assemblymember Jim Wheeler, R-Minden.

In a discussion about why he polls his constituents to determine his vote on a controversial issue, he declared he would even vote for slavery if that’s what his constituents desired. “That’s what a republic is about. You elected a person for your district to do your wants and wishes, not the wants and wishes of a special interest, not his own wants and wishes, yours.”

Setting aside the repugnant and inconceivable example of slavery, if Assemblymember Wheeler really believes we should formulate public policy based on polls, why have a Legislature? Even after completing a legislative session, he seems to misunderstand the concept of a representative hearing all the testimony and discussion on a controversial issue and then using his own presumably more-informed judgment to make a decision that is best for his constituents.

Republican leaders quickly employed their new “public outrage” reaction strategy, with Senate Minority Leader Mike Roberson, R-Las Vegas, tweeting that the Assemblymember should “find a new line of work.”

Unlike Rep. Morris, Assemblymember Wheeler didn’t need a year and a half to reach the insincere apology stage. Within hours he told the Las Vegas Sun his words were not to be taken literally and “If someone is offended by this, then I sincerely apologize.”

After more offensive remarks surfaced about Southern Nevada, including the suggestion that Nevada trade Las Vegas to California for the rest of Lake Tahoe, the Las Vegas Chamber and the Las Vegas Review-Journal called for his immediate resignation.

But much more than a resignation is needed if Republicans are to regain their status as a mainstream political force. They’re going to have to recruit rational candidates who understand an elected official can’t rant in public like he used to do at the coffee shop. They’re going to have to show up in primary elections and reclaim their party by voting people like Morris and Wheeler out of office.

Otherwise, expect the tragicomedy to continue.