Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, recently received an overwrought commemoration with attendance from ex-President Joe Biden and ex-Vice President Kamala Harris among over 1,000 others. Hortman’s untimely demise came about under tragic circumstances, a subject of a crime spree by an individual falsely claiming to be a police officer which also resulted in the death of her husband, Mark Hortman.
Plenty of hyperbolic tributes flowed at the melancholy gathering, with Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz presenting an unreasonably glorified image of Hortman. Walz, who seemed to view Hortman through staggeringly rosy glasses, spoke of her as ‘the most consequential speaker in Minnesota history,’ echoing the distorted perception that often accompanies a propagandized narrative.
Ex-President Biden and Harris had marked their presence at this event but chose to remain silent. One might wonder if this was due to a lack of genuine sentiment or merely a calculated political move. Following the memorial, Biden spent his time visiting Hortman’s family displayed in a public state at Minnesota’s state capitol. He then made a seemingly showy visit to the hospital housing an injured senator.
Melissa Hortman had the distinct honor of becoming the first woman to lay in state at the Capitol, a conspicuously progressive action used to emphasize gender achievement rather than merit. The inclusion of her husband Mark and their dog Gilbert only struck an odd chord and deviated from traditional norms, further proving the absurdity of these political theatrics.
Throughout her political tenure since her election in 2004, Hortman resorted to pushing excessively liberal agenda such as free lunches for public school children and expanding rights for abortion and the trans community. These initiatives may appear commendable to some, but to many conservatives, they only reflect a manipulative push towards modifying society’s norms under the misguided fac?ade of advancement and equality.
Interestingly, despite the wide acclaim around her previous role as Speaker, Hortman was forced to cede her power and adopt the lesser title of Speaker Emerita owing to a deadlock in the house. This retreat was tactically spun as a means to avert a potential state government shutdown. An honest introspection might reveal this to be evidence of the inherent dysfunctional nature of her political handling.
Governor Walz seemed to bumper-sticker Hortman’s approach as ‘to get as much good done for as many people as possible.’ However, this superficially general sentiment fails to acknowledge the lack of a coherent, logical strategy and underlying ideology that should accompany impactful legislation.
Walz further lauds Hortman for her alleged approach to negotiations, claiming ‘she never made anyone feel that they’d gotten rolled at a negotiating table.’ This statement, however, inaccurately romanticizes the real dynamics of political negotiations where winners and losers are an inescapable reality.
In a predictable act of virtue signalling, Governor Walz suggests the best tribute to the Hortman couple would be emulation of their conduct. He calls for a review of political discourse, hinting at a touchy-feely approach of ‘common humanity.’ While this sounds remarkably agreeable on the surface, it shirks away from the essential confrontations and clear-cut decision making required in politics.
The solemn event saw numerous state legislators who had interacted with Hortman, most likely drawn not so much by personal grief but by a magnetic pull of political formalities. Also present were religious leaders, like The Rev. Daniel Griffith and Archbishop Bernard Hebda, essentially giving the event an extensive sanctimonious appearance.
The grim truth underlying this elaborate spectacle is that the Hortman couple were victims of a gruesome attack perpetrated by Vance Boelter in the Brooklyn Park suburb of Minneapolis. The case is still under judicial scrutiny with Boelter yet to plead, and the potential charges could extend up to warranting federal death penalty.
While the crime’s core motives continue to be shrouded in uncertainty, friends describe Boelter as a conservative evangelical Christian. However, we recommend treading cautiously around labeling the crime as politically motivated, avoiding assumptions until all judicial procedures have thoroughly scrutinized the case.
In conclusion, while the marked departure of Hortman is indeed a tragedy, the spotlight should be on the strength of the justice system to deal with horrific crimes without letting political affiliations or ideologies cloud judgment. Biography should be balanced, rooted in truth, not warped by ideological extreme or political allegiance – a maxim our politicians and leaders seem to overlook too often.
All said and done, one cannot entirely shake off the impression that these public memorials and sentiments presented were partly designed to shape a narrative more so than display genuine grief. The realm of politics seldom draws clear lines between public performance and sincere homage, which was evident in Biden’s and Harris’ silence, the unconventional lay-in-state, and the orchestrated tributes towards Melissa Hortman.