Preston Xanthopoulos: I'm already tired of the political stunts and distortions
This is the time of year too many people get mean, some get untruthful, and I get tired—emotionally. Yep, it’s political season.
Let’s start with the very controversial topic of abortion. Since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, overturning Roe v. Wade and sending the issue back to the states to make or not make laws, Democratic candidates have seized on the issue with TV ad after TV ad in New Hampshire claiming Republicans will take away a women’s right to choose. Claiming Republicans already have. That’s factually untrue.
If you watch morning news or scroll social media, you see political action committees and campaigns railing on Gov. Chris Sununu for his “extreme,” “abortion ban” in hopes that will motivate politically-in-the-middle women to vote against him. In New Hampshire, the independent woman is the most targeted vote in a general election these days as they are the swing voters — the ones that will actually make the decision in November. So, they’re targeted.
Unfortunately, politicians are treating us like we’re stupid and misleading us. As I’ve repeatedly noted, I deplore being treated like I’m stupid by my would-be leaders. “Sununu’s Abortion Ban” is no such thing and it’s anything but “extreme.” A full 44 states have laws similar to New Hampshire or even more stringent than New Hampshire’s 24- week pregnancy mark for abortion to be available. It has exceptions for the health of the mother and for situations where the baby has "abnormalities incompatible with life.” Poll after poll across the country and in the Granite State show 80% of the people agreeing with a halt to third trimester abortions. If you align with 80% of the people, you aren’t extreme. You’re “extreme” if you align with the 20%.
However, the politicos running these advertisements on social media and your TV screens skip the whole “24 week” part, to convince you that Republicans, like Gov. Sununu, has or will ban abortion. It’s not true. They should be voted against if only for lying to you by omission. This cohesive messaging against Republicans is nothing more than a well organized, political stunt. Don’t be fooled.
Speaking of political stunts, can we stop using human beings as political pawns? Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been making lots of news for sending 48 Venezuelan migrants to Martha’s Vineyard in neighboring Massachusetts. This story is strange. It’s also cruel. These folks weren’t even in Florida, they were in Texas. For some reason, DeSantis picked up 48 immigrants from Texas, brought them to Florida, then flew them to Martha’s Vineyard. They were dumped off on the Island with no food, no water, no shelter and no guidance. Some of my political ilk are championing this. What exactly did this solve? I understand we have a serious immigration problem. We have a border issue. Literally thousands of people are crossing our southern border every day. It’s untenable. It’s unaffordable. It’s unsustainable. However, the problem isn't the people trying to come here for a better life, the problem is our laws and lack of enforcement. We’re the problem, the immigrants are not.
Do you know what these 48 Venezuelans were coming from? 76% “extreme poverty.” A corrupt government and police forces. The country is run by gangs who traffic humans. Who would blame them for seeking refuge in America? But, somehow, DeSantis decided to use them as a political stunt because “who cares about the immigrants, it's a great photo op.” I care about the immigrants, because human rights are not for Americans alone. This was inhumane. The “Let’s dump some poor people in the lap of rich liberals on Martha’s Vineyard … ha, ha, ha” is a gross antic. I don’t care about the rich liberals on the Vineyard. I care about the mistreatment of my fellow man. America is better than this. Just, apparently, not during campaign season when DeSantis is only running three points ahead of his Democratic opponent in his gubernatorial election in November, and he wants to run for president in 2024.
What is most amazing to me, all this effort to mislead and these political stunts, and few of these candidates seem to be talking about what I’m talking about at my dinner table — the cost of living. Most of us aren't directly affected by a 24-week abortion restriction and most of us aren't directly affected by 48 Venezuelan migrants.
We’re all affected by inflation and it is hurting and it is getting worse. Politicians, elected officials and those who want to be, need to be talking to me about what they can do to help the rising cost of food, goods and energy prices. They need to stop the “look at this shiny thing over here” political strategy. They’re trying to distract us from the realties of our daily lives and the fact that they have failed at fixing this economic mess. This is on the federal government. I’m still annoyed that the administration and Congress spent so much time on the Inflation Reduction Act, knowing darn well its title had nothing to do with the content of the bill. It didn’t and won't reduce inflation in anyway, and they knew it. But again, they misled us, they lied to us and they did it with legislative, political theater.
I may not be the coveted independent/undeclared voter, but I check every other box politicians are pursuing for votes. Let me tell you who I am going to vote for: The candidates that tell me how I am getting back to serving beef, instead of chicken, on Taco Tuesday.
Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos is a former political consultant and member of the media. She’s a native of Hampton Beach where she lives with her family and three poodles. Write to her at PrestonPerspective@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Preston Xanthopoulos: Tired of the political stunts and distortions
