So the initial part of this story is a little old — my apologies. But soon it should all make sense. I have also added a few creative, fictional details. The essence of the story remains in tact; we simply altered a few descriptors in order to remove some of the stereotypical impediments to reason. Hence, hear the story of one of our elect, Avery Blue, serving in the House of Representatives since 2021, loyal member of the Pooh Party…
Over a month ago the Pooh Party was knowingly maneuvering to delay a vote on legislation sponsored by their perceived polar opposite Robins. The Pooh Party was asking for more time, suggesting their team didn’t have enough time to thoroughly read the bill before the vote.
Coincidentally, just then Avery pulled a fire alarm in the Capitol, prompting evacuation of the entire building. Later that day, he would own up to what he attributed to an accidental error. Said Avery: “I want to personally clear up confusion surrounding today’s events. Today, as I was rushing to make a vote, I came to a door that is usually open for votes but today would not open. I am embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door. I regret this and sincerely apologize for any confusion this caused. But I want to be very clear, this was not me, in any way, trying to delay any vote.”
Short video arose showing him pulling the alarm; it was clear he did it. Likeminded media outlets immediately jumped in to share the perspective they wanted most to be true (if they covered much at all). Avery was also publicly questioned repeatedly by many — and he consistently and adamantly shared how it was an unintentional, mere mistake. He was deeply sorry… embarrassed, too…
“I was trying to get to a door. I thought the alarm would open the door, and I pulled the fire alarm to open the door by accident… I was just trying to get to my vote and the door that’s usually open wasn’t open; it was closed.”
Fast forward to just some 10 days ago, a month after the incident; full security camera footage was released. It showed, dare we suggest, a little bit more…
The footage shows Avery walking around an overt, free-standing caution sign, over to the exit doors and then actually quickly ripping down signs that mark it as an emergency exit. The signs read: “Emergency Exit Only! Push until alarm sounds (3 seconds). Door will unlock in 30 seconds.”
After ripping down the signs, Avery then swiftly goes over to the adjacent alarm, pulls it, and moves away; he doesn’t touch nor even glance at the doors he claimed he attempted to enter; in fact, the video shows him never touching the doors as if to enter. Avery leaves the scene with the wadded up emergency signs remaining in hand.
Simultaneously, Avery wasn’t done averring his innocence. He told reporters that he was “grateful that the United States Capitol Police General Counsel’s office agreed I did not obstruct nor intend to obstruct any House vote or proceedings.” But as Roll Call reported, “Capitol Police pushed back” on Bowman’s self-exoneration: “Our General Counsel did not, nor anyone in our Department, make that determination.”
Last week in court, no less, Avery pleaded guilty to “willfully or knowingly” raising a false fire alarm. Hence, let me be blunt. Avery lied.
Such is no cause to castrate or convict. We have all been guilty of stupid things. The point here is simply that Avery lied. And lied some more. He is supposed to represent the people, making wise decisions on the public’s behalf. And yet he was willing to repeatedly lie to make us believe a better sounding account.
When confronted by BMM reporter Manu Raju this past week, Raju asked Avery why he initially said he “mistakingly” thought the fire alarm would open the door — yet later pleaded guilty to “willfully or knowingly” pulling the alarm falsely. Avery’s response?
“I was straight from the very beginning.”
Raju retorted, “You weren’t straight about what happened initially.”
Said Avery, “I was very straight. I was straight from the very beginning.”
Raju: “You said you didn’t know!”
Avery: “I was straight from the beginning.”
Avery then answered another reporter’s question about the same matter with, “Yeah, whatever, man.”
So Raju asks again, “Can you just explain why you said that in the beginning?”
Ends Avery: “We already talked about this. Anything else?” He then signs off with “peace and love, y’all,” and walks away. Peace, love and a few lies in between.
Here’s the thing… Most of us learned long ago that if we lie in little things, we’ll lie in big things, as the testimony of a liar cannot be trusted. So the zillion dollar question is: what else is Avery lying about? What other emotion is an act?
Friends, we don’t have a political problem in this country; we have a people problem. We make excuses for character cracks and a clear lack of integrity. We turn the other way, vote for them, and even re-elect them… pending their party, that is. That’s a problem with us.
And yes, that’s with far more than the Poohs and the Robins.
Respectfully…
AR