The Great Pretender: How Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick Plays Make Believe for the Press
If you live in Pennsylvania’s first congressional district you’re familiar with the gigantic campaign signs that spring up every time Brian Fitzpatrick runs for reelection. Huge signs extolling how “independent” the Republican lawmaker is—how principled and bipartisan. Fitzpatrick claims to be a man on a mission to tackle dysfunction in Washington and hold those in power to account.
If only it were true.
An article published in The Philadelphia Inquirer last month, “U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick visited Ukraine and signed a missile to Putin”, highlights how Representative Fitzpatrick went to Ukraine to have a photo op in a camo vest, sign an artillery shell, and proclaim to the Ukrainian people we will always have their back. His statement leaves me wondering if Fitzpatrick has been paying any attention at all to the news.
The article, which reads like a press release, states that Fitzpatrick wrote, “To Putin From: PA-1 #peacethroughstrength” on the shell. “This is about standing tall in the face of tyranny,” Fitzpatrick is quoted as saying. Tough talk. I’m sure Vladimir Putin is quaking in his Gucci loafers.
In another display of make-believe statesmanship, Fitzpatrick packed up his Sharpie marker and headed off to Kyiv. If Fitzpatrick was who he says he is—a true independent outraged by America’s betrayal of Ukraine—he would have walked down to the White House instead.
In a deeply divided Congress, Fitzpatrick has the potential to wield a great deal of power. He could have made it clear that until Trump admits Russia is the aggressor in this conflict and commits to fully supporting America’s ally, he’s a ‘no’ vote on tax cuts for billionaires.
That would have been a courageous stand.
Problem is Fitzpatrick, the pretend independent, is afraid to rebuke Trump. So much for holding those in power to account. I guess it’s easier to stand up to a tyrant overseas than face one at home.
When push comes to shove, Brian Fitzpatrick does just what his party wants him to. He’ll stand with Marjorie Taylor Greene and vote to impeach former head of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. He’ll vote to pass legislation with rules that protect Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Elon Musk from congressional Resolutions of Inquiry. Now that’s our little Republican foot soldier. That’s the real Brian Fitzpatrick.
Dana Rollins, Langhorne
Eliminate Antisemitism, Embrace Diversity
Trump’s dual rampage against antisemitism and DEI (diversity, equality, and inclusion) is both phony and dangerous. Eliminating antisemitism is only possible if we embrace DEI.
DEI represents our country’s decades-long effort to create a just and equal society, fulfilling our founding principles, codified in our anti-discrimination civil rights laws. Put simply, DEI is about promoting the fair treatment and full participation of all people in a world increasingly plagued with power imbalances.
· “Diversity” – welcoming differences in qualities such as race, age, sex and gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and physical ability.
· “Equity” – providing equal opportunity to all (NOT guaranteeing equal outcome).
· “Inclusion” – embracing a culture in which everyone, regardless of social status or identity, can express their ideas and perspectives.
Despite efforts to misrepresent DEI, it does NOT mean lowering standards.
DEI confers tangible economic and social benefits. For example, research shows that decision-making and business profits are improved when leadership teams are diverse.
Protecting the rights of one group means protecting the rights of all groups. It’s not possible to battle antisemitism without also battling racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination.
Diversity is our country’s strength. This administration dishonors America when it scrubs government websites of the accomplishments of women and Black Americans, saluting only white men, and censors books that celebrate diversity (while retaining Hitler’s “Mein Kampf”).
If Trump wants to eliminate antisemitism, as claimed, he must be honest about DEI and restore DEI initiatives. Anything else is a sham.
Sheri Berenbaum, State College
Act to Save the Endangered Species Act
While many people celebrated planet Earth’s natural beauty and resources on Earth Day last month, the Trump Administration proposed a rule change that would profoundly weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the most important law in our country protecting threatened plants and animals.
The proposal by the U.S. Departments of the Interior and Commerce would limit the regulatory definition of “harm,” radically altering what it means to harm imperiled plants and animals.
One example of the law’s value: In 1940 only 21 Whooping Cranes remained in the wild. Today, thanks largely to the ESA and The International Crane Foundation, there are 690 “Whoopers.” Thousands of other plants and animals have also been saved and protected by the ESA.
The proposed new definition stipulates that species are protected only from intentional killing or injury, but not from the loss of habitat that plants and animals need to survive. Therefore, animals dying as collateral damage to development would no longer “count.” Consequently, freshwater diversions, wetland drainage, land development, drilling and other disturbances are expected to increase.
Submit a public comment opposing this proposed rule change on the Federal Register by May 19. Comments may be submitted digitally. Go to federalregister.gov and search for the Endangered Species Act. Please, call your Congressperson and urge them to protect the Endangered Species Act and defend this bedrock environmental law. Humanity will not thrive if plants and animals don’t.
Maggie Waggoner, Lewisburg
