Calling Out Political Rudeness
Yesterday, a man stopped by my office. As he was leaving, he shared something that had happened to him recently. In a new store in town, a man deliberately walked up to him, saying, 'I do not have any respect for you,' and walked out. Understandably, this man, who served our country and county honorably, was ticked off.
Initially, I was furious, spitting out four letter words like a seasoned sailor and wishing I'd been there to fire back: 'Well, I know a lot more people who have no respect for you, and I can assure you that list is much longer!'
But then it got me thinking: what if we all chose class over a comeback? What if we replied with grace instead? What if our leaders did the same?
It’s like our country is trapped in an endless shouting match, fueled by politicians from both sides who are more focused on landing nasty punches than solving problems. From small-town store aisles to the halls of Congress, we're drowning in rude, cutting put-downs. Our state and national leaders—Republican and Democrat alike— set a terrible example, slinging insults and acting as though bullying equals leadership.
Let’s start with Republicans, as they're currently in power both nationally and at the state level.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller’s press releases have been filled with inflammatory rhetoric on more than one occasion. After reading one a while back, I did a bit of research on the subject and then called his office to ask some questions. His media representative admitted she wrote exactly what Miller requested.
I cannot imagine working for someone who believes such embarrassing public behavior is acceptable and admitting to liking my job. I would not be able to keep my mouth shut regarding the persona he is portraying to the public. His social media posts can be equally embarrassing, just search for 'Miller’s Obscene Clinton Tweet' that he posted on November 2016 if you would like some reference. It is now deleted, but not before if was captured by the Texas Tribune and the Dallas Observer. I admit he would probably fire me.
Governor Greg Abbott’s push for school choice vouchers has involved threats and vague promises. In 2023, Abbott attacked rural Republicans who opposed vouchers in 2023, targeting them with political retribution and promising to “rain fire” on their primary campaigns and followed through by endorsing and funding challengers. He spent $8 million to oust lawmakers who stood against him, pressuring the legislature into passing Senate Bill 2 in just recently.
Abbott dodges questions about funding, claiming vouchers won’t affect public school funding. Experts like UT’s David DeMatthews confirm vouchers drain public education resources, yet Abbott relies on voters not understanding school finance complexities. Complexities, I might add, that they helped create.
President Trump’s Easter 2025 Truth Social post was disgraceful— a tirade of insults rather than grace, despite his frequent references to Christian values. I do not know what you believe are Christian values, but I suggest 'The Bible Recap' devotional on the Bible App and study the New Testament again.
Tomorrow is a new day to start over and begin again on some real Christian values. You're always welcome to visit our little Calvary Church in Rotan, Texas.
Brother Ryan delivers messages that will inspire genuine change and make you want to score a touchdown for Jesus the next time you are on the national stage. We are praying for you.
Democrats aren't innocent either. In 2008, Barack Obama, during a Pennsylvania speech, appeared to flip the middle finger while mentioning Hillary Clinton, a gesture Fox News called “disrespectful.” His team claimed it was a scratch, and the media frenzy buried policy talk.
In 2014, Obama mocked GOP election wins, saying Republicans “are still trying to figure out how to talk to women without sounding like they’re from the 1950s,” a snarky jab Mitch McConnell called a “slap at half the country.”
Joe Biden, in 2007, called Obama “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean,” a racially insensitive remark that fueled weeks of outrage. Recently, Rep.
Jasmine Crockett cruelly mocked Governor Abbott’s disability, calling him 'Governor Hot Wheels.'
This disrespect is widespread and bipartisan.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick labeled Democrats “puppets of teachers’ unions,” California Gov.
Gavin Newsom called Republicans 'science-denying troglodytes,' Senator Ted Cruz derailed immigration debates with harsh insults, and Rep. Ilhan Omar labeled GOP immigration policies as 'xenophobic' and 'racist.'
These politicians know insults distract from meaningful discussions.
Rep. Nancy Mace proudly admitted snapping 'F*** you' to a constituent in 2025 when asked about holding a town hall, then boasting about it online saying, 'It's not the first time I've ever used language with people before, and it certainly won't be the last.' Such actions teach young people that rudeness and defiance equal success.
In my own family, disrespectful behavior was never tolerated.
Once, my children engaged in argument that got out of hand in a group chat, breaking our number-one rule against name calling. I immediately unloaded the wrath of Mom by Facetime.
Makes me wonder if these elected officials remember getting a bustin on their backside when they were kids. And we wonder why bullying just continues to get worse and worse if this is what young kids read on social media from adults that should know better. Here is one idea, they could implement, STOP SHARING MEMES on your social media accounts.
This behavior poisons our communities, making encounters like the one my friend had more common. It erases trust in our leaders, who demand respect but rarely give it. It buries real debates- about jobs, schools, or safety- under a pile of petty drama.
Voters are so overwhelmed by this noise and trying to sift through the massive amounts of information sifted in that we miss the truth: too many politicians are more interested in viral moments than honest answers.
Elected officials have not only embraced but understand how social media can be used to get people so outraged and overwhelmed with words that people will spend more time distracted by fighting with each other rather than paying attention to officials and what they are doing or how they are spending our tax money.
I can promise you if my children were being given an allowance and then acting like these politicians they would be grounded and broke.
Showing respect isn’t weakness; it takes courage to rise above a cheap shot. Imagine if the man I mentioned at the beginning had the chance to say: “Respect from others isn’t a condition for my compassion. My care doesn’t vanish just because yours isn’t there and it doesn’t change the fact that I’ll still pray for you.”
That's not just classy-it's powerful. Words are powerful. Imagine a politician, grilled at a press conference, saying, That's a fair question, and here's what I'm wanting doing about it, instead of deflecting, attacking or letting fear of their money donors dictate their words or policies.
We need leaders who model courage, class, respect for their position with humility, and accountability, not just in their speeches but in their everyday words and actions on social media, in interviews, press conferences and everywhere.
So, what can we do?
Tell our political leaders you want real answers, not rhetoric and call out their bad behavior instead of letting it make you argue with other people. Make phone calls, type emails, make a post on social media or comment on one of their posts. You could also try the old fashioned snail mail delivery method.
Demand that the people we elect act like the best of us, not the worst or vote them out of office. If we keep excusing their behavior, we're part of the problem. We need to expect better from ourselves and our leaders.
But stop ignoring it.
I want to know who will finally say enough is enough and fight back with a level of class and professionalism that seems to be lacking in the world of politics?
Win with your actions and not with the rhetoric, name calling and put-downs.
Have we all forgot the saying 'If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all?'
Let's bring back the lost art of class and showing respect. You can do that even if you disagree.
We hear reports every so often that behind closed doors they do not act like the person they portray to the American citizens.
I want to see that person and hear what that person has to say.
I want to be able to share those clips online. I want to vote for someone and not feel like I am just voting against the other.
How can we strive to teach our children to not be bullies and be respectful of others in the areas of competition when the people that are running our State and National Government continue to act the way they are?