1 week Ago
FILE photo from June 2024. U.S.
Sen. John N. Kennedy, R-Madisonville, is being criticized Wednesday, Sept.
18, 2024, for demanding an Arab American woman to acknowledge whether she supports Hamas. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Love him or loathe him, one thing is undeniable about Louisiana's Sen. John Neely Kennedy: He has burnished his political brand as a faux-folksy wiseacre who can always be counted on for a sound bite, typically one that disparages Democrats.
His homespun shtick is an act, of course, as anyone who has followed Kennedy's career knows. His supporters have long excused his antics by noting that he's at least entertaining. The problem with shticks — even those that entertain — is that the actor can carry the role too far.
That, sadly, has finally happened to Kennedy. Last week, he crossed a line : He mockingly used Islamophobic taunts when questioning Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute, during a committee hearing called to address, of all things, hate crimes in America. Berry leads a nonpartisan civil rights group representing some 3.
7 million Arab Americans, many of whom have served our nation in the military and in law enforcement. Yet Kennedy thought it clever to ask Berry, "You support Hamas, do you not?" To her credit, Berry turned the tables on Kennedy. She firmly replied that she did not support Hamas, which carried out the horrific attack against Israel last Oct.
7, and called the group "a foreign terrorist organization." She added that Kennedy's question "very much puts the focus on the issue of hate in America." Her comment drew applause from the hearing's audience.
Nevertheless, he persisted, repeatedly accusing her of dodging questions she'd already answered, as if trying to manufacture televised conflict where there was none. "You support Hezbollah, too, don't you?" Kennedy said. Berry again objected, saying Kennedy's line of questioning was "extraordinarily disappointing.
" She said she does not support any terrorist organization — including Hezbollah. She also noted that many of Kennedy's constituents in Louisiana are Arab Americans. And yet, Kennedy continued, asking if she supported Iran and its hatred of Jews.
When he finally stopped talking over her, Berry said, "As a Muslim woman, I do not support Iran." The senator closed with his most shameless remark of all, telling Berry, "You should hide your head in a bag." Even by the low standard Kennedy has set for himself, his performance was shocking.
It's time to just say it: Enough already, Senator. It’s clear by now that Kennedy provokes outrage intentionally. We know that because we know Kennedy.
We’ve watched him throughout his more than three decades in public life in Louisiana. We’ve seen him serve honorably as a polished, professional public official as state treasurer in Baton Rouge, and then turn into a grizzled, cornpone quipster when the cameras in Washington roll. We are baffled as to why Kennedy has chosen such an unproductive path in the twilight of his long career, holding a safe seat and with no immediate campaign on the horizon.
What we do know is that his behavior reflects poorly on him and on the people he represents, who may by and large agree with his Republican politics but who are also famously kind and welcoming. When he sought reelection two years ago, this paper's editorial board opined , "Kennedy’s flamboyant, goofy penchant to spew one-liners and chase national media coverage has worn thin.” We expressed hope that he would revert to his once-thoughtful ways.
We’re still waiting..
