Editorial: Butler shooting task force must resist shows of partisanship
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The answers about what happened July 13 are coming, but they are coming slowly.
Four weeks after the shooting at the Trump rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds, there has already been testimony in front of a joint panel of the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Judiciary committees. The House Oversight Committee has called people to explain.
A bipartisan task force has been called to conduct its own investigation. U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler, introduced the resolution to create the task force. He will also lead it.
Bipartisan is a word that is often tossed about in these situations. The intention of all legislative committees is that they be bipartisan. Even if 90% of Congress were from one party, the other would still have its place as the minority to hear and question and speak on the topics.
But, too often, bipartisan really just means partisan.
The reality of having both parties seated at the glossy tables of the meeting rooms, with microphones and shiny nameplates in front of them, becomes a charade of civility for what quickly devolves to ugliness, name-calling and mudslinging. Sometimes, the mud flies at other legislators. Sometimes, it flies at those called to testify.
This cannot be one of those times.
The answers to the tragedy of how an assassination attempt unfolded in a little town in Southwestern Pennsylvania are too important because this is exactly the kind of event that happens with Secret Service-protected individuals every day. The president and the vice president and their families, five former presidents and four former first ladies are just the tip of the protected iceberg.
These are high-profile individuals, many of whom regularly participate in speaking engagements. One of them is running the country. Two of them are actively running for president. Several others are participating in campaigning. Former presidents and first ladies are regularly used in a diplomatic capacity. They attend large public events. There are a lot of moving parts to consider.
The dangers should not be partisan. The threats need to be considered without bias.
The unsecured rooftop where Thomas Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park took his shot at former President Donald Trump had no party affiliation. It was just a position that should have been rendered safe. The lack of adequate communication should have nothing to do with voter registration.
What matters are the answers. The country needs them to find trust again. The family of Buffalo Township firefighter Corey Comperatore deserves to know how and why he died.
And it is imperative that all the committee members commit to changing the way they approach their typical committee work.
This is not the time for grandstanding. This is not about a sound bite for the campaign website — and we cannot forget that every seat in the House of Representatives is on the ballot this year. The information is what is important, not video of this congressman talking over that witness.
Too many important hearings have fallen to spectacle over substance. It is on every member of the task force, starting with Kelly, to make sure that does not happen this time.