The political spectacle that no one asked to see
In a twist that no one (or perhaps everyone) saw coming, several airports across the United States have decided they have better things to do than broadcast Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s political self-help video. The reason? It seems that openly blaming Democrats for the federal government shutdown and its delightful impact on TSA operations has a little problem: it’s called political content. And lo and behold, airports, those temples of calm and patience, have rules against turning their screens into a partisan channel. What an inconvenient detail.
That’s right, airports in Las Vegas, Charlotte, Atlanta, Phoenix, Seattle and others have cried foul, or rather, have politely rejected the video, arguing that it goes against their internal policy or airport regulations which, imagine, prohibit political messages. It seems they prefer travelers to be aware of their departures and arrivals, rather than receive a lesson in national politics while they desperately run to their gate.
A legal battle with a taste of déjà vu
Meanwhile, in the wonderful world of official emails and website updates, various government agencies have adopted language that coincidentally points the finger at Democrats as solely responsible for the shutdown. This has led some legal experts to whip up the Hatch Act of 1939, that dusty old law that restricts the political activities of federal employees. Because, of course, what better time to remember a 1939 law than during a government shutdown in the digital age? The irony is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
The closure, that recurring event that already seems like a national tradition, has stopped routine operations and has forced airports to face flight interruptions. Democrats insist that any deal to reopen the government must address their health care demands, while Republicans
With the elegance of an elephant in a china shop, they indicate that they will not negotiate until their opponents agree to withdraw the suspension of financing. And if that were not enough, insurance premiums would double if Congress does not renew subsidy payments that expire on December 31. Because what would a crisis be without an additional financial threat?
In the video in question, Noem declares with a solemnity that rivals a state address that the TSA‘s “top priority” is to make travel pleasant and efficient, while maintaining security. A priority that, apparently, includes distributing political blame left and right. “However, Democrats in Congress refuse to allow funding from the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are affected, and the majority of our TSA employees are working without pay,” he adds. Because nothing says “helping make the trip enjoyable” like reminding passengers that the staff checking them isn’t getting paid. Now that’s efficiency with style.
The Transportation Security Administration, which reports to the Department of Homeland Security, has approximately 61,000 of its 64,130 employees required to continue working during the shutdown. The Department stated Friday that the video is distributed at airports across the country. Or at least, he tries. Because, as we have seen, many airports have decided that it is not the ideal content to entertain the traveling masses.
Airports become film critics
A DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, responded to a request for comment by reiterating part of the message in Noem’s video. “It is unfortunate that our workforce has been put in this position due to political games. Our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government,” he said. Because, as we all know, the best way to avoid political games is to release a video that is basically a campaign ad disguised as an official message.
The Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, a place where people often take risks, decided not to bet on this video. He said he had to “take into account the restrictions of the Hatch Act.” “Under airport regulations, the terminals and surrounding areas are not designated public forums, and the airport’s intention is to prevent use of the facility for political or religious promotion,” the statement read. Wow, it seems that airports prefer to maintain their status as zones free of partisan propaganda. What a radical concept.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins didn’t mince words. He said his town, located north of New York City, will not play the video at its airport. In a statement, he called the material “inappropriate, unacceptable and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials,” and said its tone is “unnecessarily alarmist” regarding operations at the Westchester County Airport. “At a time when we should be focusing on ensuring stability, collaboration and preparedness, this type of messaging only distracts from the real issues and undermines public trust,” he said. Or, in other words, “we don’t want to scare our passengers with your political drama, Kristi.”
But the crown jewel is that even in conservative states, airports have refused to show the video. Salt Lake City International Airport was not reproducing the material because state law prohibits the use of city property for political purposes, airport spokeswoman Nancy Volmer said. Because, apparently, in Utah they also like to maintain political neutrality in their public facilities. Who would have thought?
And then there’s the Billings, Montana, airport, which “graciously declined” the offer, despite having screens that could show the video with audio, assistant director of aviation Paul Khera said. “We don’t want to get involved in partisan politics,” he said. “We like to stay in the center, we didn’t want to play that video.” A statement as refreshing as a glass of water in the desert: they simply don’t want problems. And who can blame them, in the midst of a government shutdown, the last thing they need is to add fuel to the fire of political polarization.
In short, what we have here is a confrontation between the government’s attempt to use airport screens as a political megaphone and the resistance of these venues to becoming a partisan battlefield. As travelers deal with delays and unpaid employees, the spectacle of blame and denial unfolds on screens that, for now, remain free of this particular controversial content. Because, at the end of the day, we can all agree on one thing: flying is stressful enough without adding a dose of unsolicited political warfare.
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