The country was horrified to wake up this morning and learn that a gunman had opened fire, targeting Republican members of Congress and Majority Whip Steve Scalise as they practiced during an early-morning workout in preparation for tomorrow’s annual Congressional Baseball Game. Sept. 11 was an attack on all United States citizens. Today was an attack on the U.S. Congress.
As Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said so eloquently today from the floor of the House, “an attack on one is an attack on all,” and tomorrow’s charity baseball game provides President Trump with a rare opportunity to unify a deeply divided country and remind us all what continues to Make America Great Again and again. Day after day, year after year.
Trump can do that by exchanging his suit for a uniform – a baseball uniform — as members of Congress and their staff gather to watch America’s pastime on Thursday night in a congressional charity game.
The stories and images emerging from Wednesday’s tragic events are disturbing, and the superhumanlike and heroic effort by Capitol Hill Police officers without a doubt kept this isolated incident from becoming a total massacre. Lives were spared because these Capitol Hill Police officers risked their lives and returned gunfire. While Republican members of Congress dropped to the ground or took cover, these brave officers stood up to stare danger in the eyes.
You’d expect to hear gunfire and helicopters transporting victims from below in a combat zone, but not on a residential baseball park in a quiet, upscale suburb of Washington, D.C., with members of Congress on the field. Partisan political rhetoric has always been a part of Washington, especially lately, but today that divisive rhetoric led to real danger.
What has always made America great are the police officers, firefighters, teachers, and everyday citizens working hard to provide for their families and serve their communities. Some of these heroes we know; many we do not because they choose to work quietly and tirelessly behind the scenes. But our greatest asset has always been our people, and it is why we remain one of the most innovative, successful and powerful countries in the entire world.
The game will go on tomorrow, and it should. It’s the right decision. As Washington takes a pause to recalibrate and re-evaluate its political rhetoric and partisanship, President Trump can step up, suit up and show the country why he’s the president and unite these divided states.
The Congressional Baseball Game has been around for a long time. Let’s hope bipartisanship sticks around for a while too. Lives are depending on it.
Mark Vargas (@MarkAVargas) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. He is co-founder and president of tech startup Licentiam. From 2007-2010, he served as a civilian within the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
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