Opinion: Jackass-ocracy harassment of Sisolaks another example of how far we’ve fallen | McGinness – Reno Gazette Journal

This opinion column was written by RGJ engagement editor Brett McGinness.

It was disheartening to see two grown men harassing Gov. Steve Sisolak and First Lady Kathy Sisolak in a Las Vegas restaurant this past weekend.

Despite Nevadas fast-growing population and increasing business and political clout, it still can feel less like a state and more like a large neighborhood, where its not surprising to see state officials out and about without an entourage or security detail.

This weekends incident pushes us further away from that neighborly small-town mentality.

Youre in here without security? one of the men asked. Im surprised you have the balls to be out here in public, punk.

Set aside (for now) the abhorrent threats of violence and theracist, baseless conspiracy theories these men shouted at the Sisolaks. This confrontationalbehavior isn't fit for political disagreements, or anywhere else in polite society it'sbehavior that would get anyone immediately kicked out of any bar in the state.

None of us should be OK with this.

And most of us arent. State Republicans and Democrats alike condemned the confrontation.Nevada GOP chair Michael J. McDonald wrote, "There is no place for the behavior and violent threats against the Governor."Attorney General Aaron Ford wrote on Twitter, Real patriots don't act like this, and anyone perpetuating these actions should be held accountable. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, the current front-runner to challenge Sisolak for the governorship, wrote, "Hateful verbal abuse and violent threats have no place in our political system."

On the other hand, Las Vegas City Councilwoman and Sisolak challenger Michele Fiore hastried to playit both ways, saying she does"not condone the personal attacks made in that confrontation" but also, "If you look at the history of dictators, pitchforks will be next."

Reno lawyer Joey Gilbert, another Republican gubernatorial candidate, said he couldn't condemn the actions due to freedom of speech concerns.

"While the comments directed toward Sisolak's job performance as Governor could not have been pleasant for him to hear," Gilbert said, "I'm sure he joins with me in agreeing with the following historical statements about the importance of supporting our First Amendment right to free speech."

Joey Gilbert is right. The men dohave the legal right to speak their minds about politics. But it sets an extremely low and shameful bar for our political discourse to simply say,"Hey, it'snot illegal."

Were swiftly descending into Rule by Incivility deferring to whoevers willing to be the loudest, make the biggest scene, act like the biggest jackass. In the absence of solid, fact-basedarguments, just be louder, repeat yourself more, and shout over their responses.

One of our two major political parties used to call itself The Party for Grown-ups but have proven to be anything but. The other one says, When they go low, we go high but have engaged in similar public harassment of politicians and pundits for years.

Its long past time to get back to the fundamentals of democracy. Its a good start to see voices throughout the political spectrum condemn the ambush of the governor and first lady. But we need to demand better from ourselves, from our neighbors, and especially members of our political tribes.

Were the worlds oldest democracy. Lets start acting like grown-ups again.

Brett McGinness is the engagement editor for the Reno Gazette Journal. He's also the writer of The Reno Memo a free newsletter about news in the Biggest Little City.Subscribe to the newsletter right here. Considersupporting the Reno Gazette Journal,too.

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Opinion: Jackass-ocracy harassment of Sisolaks another example of how far we've fallen | McGinness - Reno Gazette Journal