President Biden's genuine concern about Sen. McConnell's "Frozen" moment
Get the Point!
If you know me personally, then you know that I have a rather wicked sense of humor that sometimes finds me laughing at inappropriate matters at inopportune times.
But yesterday, when Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) strode to the lectern and literally froze up only a few words into his weekly press statement, I did not find it to be a laughing matter at all.
I do not mean to chastise those who did laugh, mind you, because I know that laughter is often a great way to release tension or stress surrounding uncomfortable matters. But while I do not share McConnell's politics or have a whole ton of respect for his persona, one which has found him using the power of his office to hurt so many people due to how they look, pray, or love, I hesitated to laugh at his brief dolorous demise because what struck McConnell is one of my most morbid fears—the fear of losing my ability to think and effectively communicate!
Yes, I know that as a Christian I am not supposed to fear anything but the Lord, but I would be lying if I didn't tell you that what I saw happen to Sen. McConnell yesterday frightened the Hell out of me! In fact, it reminded me of a moment five years ago when I was picking up some dinner from Publix after a very long day in court—one in which I hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch due to the rush—and as I gathered items, I noticed that the building seemed to start spinning and no matter how much I tried to make it stop, it spun faster and faster until I passed out in the middle of the aisle.
Thankfully, the friendly folks at Publix, which included my old friend and assistant manager Rick Brown, laid me out on a bench and gave me fruit and Vitamin C pills until I was transported to the hospital for myriad tests (that concluded that I hadn't had a stroke, but was dealing with low blood sugar). But the episode reinforced that no matter how physically strong or strong willed I'd always been, that a medical episode could stop me dead in my tracks; I'm just grateful I was not just dead—period!
I was also grateful that days after the incident, my friend Rick Brown and others called and sent text messages to check on my health. That's why I know that Sen. McConnell, an old Senate colleague but ideological opponent of President Joe Biden, was happy to receive a call from the White House after his health scare yesterday. McConnell even joked (per The Hill):
“The president called to check on me. I told him I got sandbagged,” McConnell said, referring to Biden’s trip and fall over a sandbag at the U.S. Air Force Academy commencement last month.
While I'm sure that these two octogenarians shared a hearty laugh at recent incidents that are due, in large part, to their aging, it is not lost upon me that President Biden, whether you love his politics or not, showed empathy and compassion towards Sen. McConnell, the very man who has worked indefatigably to obstruct the Biden administration’s political agenda for three years and counting.
Biden and McConnell chatting on Capitol Hill last year…
I would be remiss if I didn't note that such basic human decency was sorely lacking during the Trump administration as the former president often took to Twitter or Fox News to mock his foes—even when they died—instead of showing proper respect.
In fact, just last Fall, Trump took to his so-called Truth Social network and wrote that Sen. McConnell had a “death wish” due to negotiating with Democrats on the debt ceiling, and took a viciously racist shot at McConnell's spouse by dissing “his China loving wife, Coco Chow!” Lest we forget that Elaine Chow served as Trump's Transportation Secretary and that she, and her husband, only fell out of favor with Trump when they refused to back his lies that the 2020 election was stolen.
During Sen. John McCain’s funeral in 2018, Trump stood stoically or sat with his arms folded while frowning while his presidential predecessors Obama, Bush, Clinton, and Carter sang hymns and laughed at fond reminisces of McCain, a Vietnam War combat hero who Trump often crudely joked “got captured.”
While I am sure that most of my Hobbservation Point readers share this writer's disdain for Sen. McConnell's politics, I am also sure that most of you are good people who do not wish poor health—or death—even upon your political enemies!
Thus, my kudos to President Biden for showing class by wishing McConnell well yesterday, and my reminder heading into 2024 as to why the last thing that this nation needs is to see the combative, crude, and classless Donald Trump back in the Oval Office!