As I See It
Van Orden’s actions utterly despicable
It is rare for leaders of our two political parties to agree on anything. But the Congressman who represents La Crosse in the House of Representatives has gotten Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer to agree. They both strongly condemned Congressman Derrick Van Orden after his embarrassing behavior in the House last week. Van Orden unleashed a verbal tirade against a group of teenagers who spent the summer serving as Senate pages. It was the end of their stint as pages, and they wanted some remembrances of their time spent at the Capitol. So they lay on the floor, pointed their cameras up, and took pictures of the dome inside the rotunda. That set off Van Orden, who used some very salty language to take the teens to task, calling them jackasses before forcing them to move along. Schumer and McConnell condemned Van Orden’s actions, and say all of their party agrees with their assessment that Van Orden’s behavior was out of line. His conduct was, as Schumer called it “utterly despicable.” But his failure to apologize, to the pages, House leadership, and the constituents he represents, is even more of an embarrassment.
walden
August 3, 2023 at 10:12 am
The incident referenced occurred over a week ago. It took you this long to muster this schtick of selective and cheap “outrage”?
Did Sen. Pfaff serve in the military? (I know the answer). I would never ask Van Orden, with 25 years in the military including 5 combat deployments to apologize for being overly enthusiastic with his patriotism. No apology from Van Orden requested or expected.
Those Pages in the capital hear much worse language every day from sources the liberals actively promote. Get over it.
Carol Herlitzka
August 3, 2023 at 12:24 pm
I don’t think people look into situations before they condemn someone for there words and action.
Look at brad pfaffs hands? A farmer?? I don’t think so! I had an uncle that was a farmer. His hands never looked like Mr pfaffs..you liberals just seem to get nastier every day.!!!
We should not pay for idiots that want to take away our freedoms, our cars, our lively hood, our food, our retirement, our right to live our lives our own way..not The way you want us to live!!!
That is not freedom to us. That is like china..if that is what you want, go there to live, we do need you in our free world. I am sure you wouldn’t like china!!!why don’t you try it!
Terry Halverson
August 3, 2023 at 1:01 pm
This reminds me of the incident at the Prairie du Chien library when D. Van Orden lit into an angry tirade at an inclusive LGBT book display. He was so intimidating to the 17 year old library assistant that she was too afraid to let him know that she had created the display when he demanded to know who had set it up. Now it is another outburst of anger at young people doing nothing wrong. In Wisconsin it is typical for children visiting our state capitol to lay on the floor to view the rotunda and take pictures. I wish D. Van Orden would get some help in controlling his anger and would refrain from calling anyone, but especially our young people, obscenity laced names. These young people deserve better treatment and certainly deserve a better role model. I am ashamed that he fails to represent our Wisconsin culture of decency and respect for people. His failure to apologize makes this of even greater concern to me as it indicates that he is unaware that he was inappropriate in his treatment of these young folks.
walden
August 4, 2023 at 10:21 pm
This reminds you of the library episode? That would be the one where sex themed books were prominently displayed at a public library. Apparently someone within library management thought it was a good idea to have a 17 year old (a minor and a “young folk” in your terms) involved in building the sex themed display.
So, the voters saw it differently than you did. The faux made-for-liberal-media outrage of these events are easily seen through by reasonable people. This media theater is what sank the La Crosse Tribune; people couldn’t wouldn’t stomach reading the trash much less pay for it. Van Orden did the public a service by bringing into the light what was going on at the PDC library.
Terry Halverson
August 9, 2023 at 6:09 pm
The PDC Library display was of books focused on LGBT persons and interests, not sex-themed in any provocative sexual sense. It was about including all persons in our public world and was a constitutionally protected example of free speech. I am for inclusion of all people in society including allowing them to tell their stories. I am for free speech and the free exchange of ideas. My concern with D. Van Orden is his inability to exercise self control. Why the shouting, profanity, and excessive anger that occurred in both instances? Is this something he is proud of? This flying off the handle and no apology strikes me as a problem given that he must work with people from all walks of life many of whom do not share all of his beliefs. Is he capable of rational and reasonable discourse in situations that push his emotional buttons? He doesn’t seem to be, so my hope is that he will consider getting some help with this problem.
nick
August 4, 2023 at 7:53 am
These young adults hear that language and probably use that language all the time. Having said that, VanOrden’s tirade was in-appropriate
and he should be reprimanded.
As for Schumer and McConnell agreeing, they would probably do more of that if both parties did not have obnoxious extremists in their respective parties.
The world, by the day, is becoming a more dangerous place, we are falling farther and farther behind educationally and we are pushing too much propaganda in our schools. We better get back to basics.