Preston Xanthopoulos: Proud of New Hampshire leaders, embarrassed by Washington antics

“This is a hearing and God knows the American people have enough contempt for Congress, let’s not make it worse.” — Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vermont.

Okay it has happened. Hell has apparently frozen over because I actually agree with Bernie Sanders.

These words of wisdom came during a Senate hearing last week in the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which Sanders chairs.

Apparently, Committee member, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, and the witness there to testify, Sean O’Brien, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, don’t like each other and have a history of such. So, Mullin decided to use his time to challenge O’Brien to a fight. Right there. Right then. During a hearing and in a U.S. Senate Committee room.

It was awkward watching a United States senator tell a witness to “stand your butt up” to fight and the witness replying in kind with, “you stand your butt up!” It then devolved into them calling each other thugs and clowns and various other mature monikers, before Chairman Sanders could get things under control. It was embarrassing as an American and it was simply childish. I will say, speaking of childish, O’Brien started it.  After a previous hearing, he took to Twitter (X) to call Sen. Mullin a clown and a fraud and seemingly challenge Mullin to do exactly what he did with "Quit the tough guy act in these senate hearings, you know where to find me anyplace, any time, cowboy!”

I did get a kick out of Mullin mocking the guy for being tough behind a keyboard while not face to face, but I don’t blame O’Brien either because, I learned Mullin is a former professional MMA fighter. I’d stay behind my keyboard too, were I him. That being said, as Bernie Sanders had to remind him, he’s a United States senator now. Sanders and the American people, including myself, expect more from a person in his position.

It was quite a week for congressional decorum.

We had a Republican congressman call a Democrat congressman a “Smurf” and the Democrat congressman replied on Twitter (X) calling him Gargamel. That’s cute. I wonder who Azrael is? I hope Papa Smurf and Smurfette are working on legislation for the good of America while these cartoon characters are busy with these antics.

A former speaker of the House is accused of giving an elbow shot to the kidneys of a member of his own party who voted him out of the speakership. (Former speaker denies it.) Meanwhile we have a Democratic congresswoman actively repeating the Hamas rally cry, "From the river to the sea." I don't know what is in the water down in D.C., but Congress needs a Brita.

But, there’s hope. While 500 miles away, “kids are being kids,” here in New Hampshire, adults are in charge. I watched the press conference held by Secretary of State Dave Scanlan this week announcing the date of our first-in-the-nation primary. My biggest takeaway wasn’t his announcing a Jan. 23 date, defying the Democratic National Committee rules; it wasn't the history of the Hall of Flags he shared as they stood in it for this historic moment; it wasn't the history of the primary and it's challenges along the way he provided. It was who was standing behind him, united: Republican Gov. Chris Sununu and Democratic Senate Leader Donna Soucy; Republican State Party Chairman Chris Ager and Democrat State Party Chairman Ray Buckley; several other recognizable faces from both political parties, all standing shoulder to shoulder with a common cause. It didn’t matter to me at that moment what the cause was, just that it was.

I was and am as equally proud of our New Hampshire leaders, as I am embarrassed by the Washington ones.

As Secretary Scanlan said in his remarks, “New Hampshire government is designed from the bottom up, not the top down and our political culture and traditions reflect that.” Hear, Hear, Granite State! Washington, take heed.

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 two poodles. Write to her at PrestonPerspective@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Preston Xanthopoulos: Proud of NH leaders, embarrassed by D.C. antics