Non-Answers Are Damning

“Did he lose the 2020 election?” – Tim Walz

“Tim, I’m focused on the future.” – JD Vance

“That is a damning non-answer.” – Tim Walz

Yessiree! That JD Vance is sure focused on the future, what with his incessant reminiscing about those good ol’ days when a woman knew her place and teachers had lots of children (but no cats). It reminds of the delightful Michael J.Fox film, Back to the Future.

That would be a mighty good campaign slogan for the entire not-so-Grand Old Party. It is hard to find any Republican position that would not be comfortably at home in the ‘50s. Pick your century, 19th or 20th. In the 1850s, women and Black folks had no rights whatsoever. In the 1950s they had a few, but hadn’t yet started all that unseemly bitching of the 1960s. Those were the days!

The more serious takeaway, of course, is the ethical decay that is evident in Vance’s inability to acknowledge the simple truth because of his pitiful need to please the multiply indicted, multiply convicted, serial liar and dim star to whom he has hitched his wagon.

It is equal parts amusing and dangerous to observe Republican leaders walk the rhetorical tightrope when asked about January 6th or the true result of the 2020 election. Speaker Johnson, in his best boyishly innocent certainty, complains that such stuff is so “yesterday.” Apparently we should just get on with the planning for the next round of false claims of voter fraud and stolen elections.

They must not displease the Wizard of Orange, lest their political ambitions be savaged by a Truth Social tweet.

The “damning non-answer” phenomenon is not unique to national politics. Another example arose right here in good old Erie, courtesy of Mayoral candidate Andrew Moore.

Before explicating the Moore instance, I acknowledge that the “damning non-answers” are not equivalent. Andrew Moore seems a decent sort, compared to Vance’s utter indecency. Moore’s non-answers and other campaign elisions are more in the “politics as usual realm,” which is, nonetheless, not a  particularly noble realm.

In an Erie Facebook group, Moore was asked quite explicitly whether he, as Mayor, would support the several town-supported events and organizations that promote and celebrate diversity and inclusion. I have been quite heartened by events like Erie Pride, Hispanic Heritage Day, Juneteenth and others. These activities are joyful affirmation of folks in the minority who can be nearly invisible in a mostly white community.

These events also signal decent intentions, however short we may fall in our actions to craft a more inclusive town. I hope that this commitment makes Erie a more attractive option to folks of color and LGBTQ+ folks, if the costs aren’t prohibitive.

But Moore’s silence on this issue speaks volumes. A non-answer is fairly interpreted as a lack of support. In my view this should be disqualifying. I recall, although I can’t find the reference, a vague rejection of any affirmative efforts to be more inclusive in employment. It is a rather common conservative position, along with: “we’re all equal,” “hiring and admission should only be on merit,” or the dual piles of manure, “colorblindness” and “content of character, not color of skin.”

In Moore’s case, the non-answer is partnered with the “non-mention” on his campaign website. Here are his campaign priorities:

• champion the building of an outdoor waterpark/aquatic facility to align with strong resident support

• expand our amenities around our airport, such as a community park along Coal Creek Trail, so families can watch the planes and learn about flying

• invest in new events, including a dog/animal parade and other community-uniting activities

• expand our July 3 fireworks celebration to one we can all be proud of

• start with a survey of possibilities to ensure you have a voice so we can assure Erie is the  best place to raise our families, not just today but long into the future (that future thing again!)

The man is apparently indifferent or pleasantly hostile to a Pride or Juneteenth event, but by golly he’s all in on a dog parade and plane watching!

And as to elision, some of his critics note that he is on the Oil and Gas slate, which he kinda, sorta slides around about. His website biography reads:

Andrew is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the Colorado School of Mines, a prestigious STEM-focused public university in Golden. Before joining Mines, he was the CIO at the Boulder Valley School District and held leadership roles at Sun Microsystems.

Er, ah, . . . what happened to the 12 years working at Chevron? Seems Oily and Gassy to me.