Governing during an outbreak ... of cluelessness
If you’ve ever wondered what it means when it is said, “No good deed goes unpunished,” consider what happened in Columbus, Ohio, last week, when a group of his fellow Republicans called for the impeachment of Gov. Mike DeWine over his handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
DeWine was one of the first governors in the country to take the outbreak seriously. When things got worse instead of better, he didn’t refuse responsibility. He didn’t blame John Kasich, Dick Celeste, William McKinley or any of his predecessors.
The 10 articles of impeachment were composed by State Rep. John Becker, of Clermont County, who accuses the governor of exceeding his authority by depriving Ohioans of their constitutional rights when he issued a stay- at- home order, and refusing to work with the legislature.
The same legislature that seriously considered requiring doctors to re-implant ectopic embryos, hounded Dr. Amy Acton into quitting her job as the state director of health, then re-elected Larry Householder as Speaker of the House?
That legislature?
The call for impeachment is being cosponsored by State Reps. John Becker, Paul Zeltwanger and Nino Vitale, whose anti- mask crusade at times has been downright bizarre.
At the outset of the outbreak, Vitale argued that a mask violated his religious rights, stating “This is the greatest nation on earth founded on Judeo- Christian principles. One of those principles is that we are all created in the image and likeness of God. That image is seen the most by our face. I will not wear a mask.”
Vitale also calls DeWine a dictator, arguing that even impeachment isn’t punishment enough.
It’ll be interesting to see what Vitale’s punishment will be if he’s found to be guilty of the campaign- violation charges filed against him last week.
No public servant in the world has offered a perfect solution to our current dilemma. The last person who walked on water got crucified for his trouble.
DeWine’s biggest mistake was in being too accommodating; backtracking from an early statewide mask mandate, only to reimpose it weeks after the outbreak had a foothold.
His last- second order to cancel in- person voting for the March 17 primary also caused confusion and havoc.
Also, the state needs to be more transparent and release the statistics of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.
DeWine’s commitment to Ohioans’ safety while averting the wrath of the most unstable and narcissistic president in history has been nothing less a master class in knife- juggling.
This attempt at impeachment has been successful in that it’s managed to get people from both sides of the aisle to agree that it’s an embarrassment for the entire state.
We don’t have time for this dogand-pony show. We’re looking down the barrel of flu season, and COVID-19 isn’t remotely done kicking us around.
This, in the middle of a presidential election.
The impeachment will die on the doorstep because even DeWine’s most vocal critics know he’s done as well as anyone could.
The only thing enlightening about this exercise in futility is that virtually no one in Ohio knew DeWine’s first name was “Richard.”