As we recall our own memories of Sept. 11, 2001, I remember when Dennis Hastert, then speaker of the House, said that “when America suffers, . . . we as a Congress and as a government stand united and we stand together.” Remembering Democrats and Republicans standing shoulder to shoulder on the steps of the Capitol, united in purpose, resolve, and eventually in song — they spontaneously broke into “God Bless America” — leaves me longing for that kind of unity and resolve in Congress in support of Americans suffering today.
There was no Tea Party, no obsession with so-called socialist liberals. Rather, there were US congresspeople working together to help suffering Americans. THAT was their number one objective, as it should be.
Here’s hoping that today’s Congress can recall that time and put their polarizing differences aside.