GOP Governor Kristi Noem flies too close to the sun
I believe more Republicans need to have what I call an “Icarus moment.” Many of you know about Icarus. It is one of my favorite stories, and I’ve used his mythical fall from the skies often in my works as a metaphor for the hubris of many Republicans.
The Icarus moment is when — the mask falls from the Republican. And we get to witness their true selves — in all their arrogant non-glory. This is what happened to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. She had her Icarus moment, alright — and then some.
Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Noem spoke to Dana Bash — and like a deer in the headlights, Noem was trapped. Bash asked her about a recent event involving a 10-year-old girl from Ohio.
The child was pregnant, and since abortion is now illegal in her state — Ohio — she was forced to go to another state to get one.
Sick and insane, to be sure. And Bash wanted to know what Noem thought of this.
Noem seemed to KNOW she was caught — so she, in the spirit of Icarus — chose to fly ahead on her wings of denial — and ignore the question.
But Bash was relentless:”I want you to be clear, will the state of South Dakota, going forward, force a 10-year-old in that very same situation to have a baby?” Noem continued expressing outrage about the “horrible, deranged individual.”
No — not herself — she meant the sick bastard who had got this girl pregnant. And yes, he IS horrible and deranged. But one could tell the Icarus moment was almost upon her as she continued to desperately ignore the question hovering in front of her refusing to fly away.
Bash then asked her if she’d change the laws to make an exception for this traumatized child, whom Noem had just expressed such sympathy. The wings melted: “I would say I don’t believe a tragic situation should be perpetuated by another tragedy.”
What I take that to mean is that Noem expects any child in South Dakota in that situation to have the baby. THAT apparently is not a tragedy. The child, not wanting to carry it to term, IS one. Imagine if every Republican running in the midterms could have an Icarus moment. Let’s try to make that happen.
