By Gordon Bowie, Jefferson Parish Democratic Executive Committee Member
Why hasn't the local media challenged Steve Scalise?
Scalise, an embarrassment to Louisiana and second-ranking Republican in the U.S. House, refuses to say – at least out loud -- that the 2020 election was legitimate.
Chris Wallace of Fox News has challenged him repeatedly on that. But closer to home, Lee Zurik of WVUE-TV (Fox 8), Travers Mackle of WDSU (NBC 6), Katie Moore of WWL (CBS 4) and the rest of the media ought to be asking Scalise a few questions:
What evidence do you have, other than what’s been rejected by more than 60 courts, that the election was illegitimate? If the election was illegitimate, were you legitimately elected? Were any Republicans illegally elected?
And if you truly believe Joe Biden was not legitimately elected, and you’re not just espousing this line to gain favor with Donald Trump, why haven't you made exposure of an improper election your priority mission?
Scalise wants to be Speaker of the House. He knows that Kevin McCarthy is a weak House Minority Leader and has already been denied the speakership by the Republican caucus. Instead of concentrating on rebuilding his district after the massive destruction of Hurricane Ida, Scalise is working to build support for leapfrogging McCarthy should Republicans take control of the House.
To make that jump, he needs support from the anti-democratic wing of the Republican Party, the folks who like to say Jan. 6 was just a rally and weak-kneed Mike Pence should have thrown out the election. So Scalise genuflects their way and works sotto voce to undermine America’s electoral system and our very democracy.
Scalise’s motives should be easy to read. Advocate Columnist Stephanie Grace has skewered him. But what about all the broadcast journalists whose job it is to tell truth to our local market? Will no one here challenge him? Grill him? For that matter, no elected official in Scalise’s U.S. House District One has really called him out, either.
Scalise has one goal – power. And there is scant evidence that once he gains it, he will work in the best interests of anyone other than Steve Scalise.