“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” – 1st Corinthians 13:11
Representative Matt Gurtler is the latest in a series of post-Tea Party elected officials who demands to have his cake and eat it too. He’s thus far been the only Representative to vote against the Amended Budget (supplemental budget), and was the only vote against the Speaker’s pet initiative to provide firefighters with a supplemental cancer policy to cover cancers related to the line of work.
For this Representative Gurtler has “earned” the kudos of the part of the GOP base that anything short of voting “no” against everything is capitulating to corrupt RINO’s. But to earn something there is usually a cost. Time, labor, or something of value must be given in order for something to be earned.
What is usually given for such stands of “principle” is an understanding that a member’s district doesn’t get the spoils of the system they found corrupt. Right or wrong, that’s how this ugly system works. The expectation that a member can grandstand while others vote on budgets and bills they don’t find perfect but they do find more good than bad and face no consequences is silly. That’s not just a problem for Gurtler, but for every member who ends up looking morally inferior to Gurtler for accepting less than perfection in a budget or a bill.
Representative Gurtler finds parts or all of the budget troublesome. He still wants all of the upside of that budget he finds troublesome. He believes in getting the applause. He just doesn’t believe in taking the lumps that come with it.
One might say this is an entitlement mentality. Representative Gurtler apparently believes he should be able to get all the adulation for voting no, but that his constituents and his district remain entitled to receive all the perks of programs he won’t vote to fund. That’s a very, very childish view of politics.
Now having been informed that actions have consequences, Representative Gurtler has doubled down by claiming that he’s being bullied. See this as what it is: 1) A temper tantrum, and 2) An attempt to play the victim card to help insulate him from consequences that are certain to follow.
Both are acts of a child. Representative Gurtler put his name on the ballot and got himself elected. He can choose to represent his constituents however he sees fit, and run for reelection on his record – AND the associated consequences of his record. Hopefully, he’ll learn that lesson soon. It’s up to him which way he chooses to proceed, and either may work for him. But the thought that he can both vote against everything and his constituents still get everything they want is simply childish. It’s time to step up and be a man, Tiger.