Opinion: George Santos isn’t comic relief anymore
In Shakespeare’s performs or, say, the Victorian novels of Dickens, Trollope and Austen, there are sometimes not less than two plots shifting ahead at any second: a critical dramatic story involving the work’s primary heroes and villains and a comic book subplot peopled by absurd characters.
In the actual world, we’ve got comedian subplots as effectively. Take Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who — whereas American democracy has spun uncontrolled, the U.S. Capitol was overrun and Donald Trump turned a critical contender for reelection — wanders on and off the nationwide stage like a ditzy clown holding the viewers amused.
Santos has been a recurring joke within the midst of our in any other case terrifying and riveting political drama — a considerably doughy, considerably hapless Mr. Magoo-turned-con man in a blazer, sweater and chinos. He’s a fraudster who advised lie after ridiculous lie, advert absurdum, about his household background, training and job expertise and, although caught within the act, steadfastly refused to be held accountable.
Opinion Columnist
Nicholas Goldberg
Nicholas Goldberg served 11 years as editor of the editorial web page and is a former editor of the Op-Ed web page and Sunday Opinion part.
His free journey, although, could possibly be coming to an finish. Federal prosecutors in New York introduced Wednesday that the 34-year-old freshman congressman has been charged with a variety of not-so-funny crimes, together with wire fraud, cash laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements to Congress. In brief, they allege, he deceived and defrauded marketing campaign donors and the U.S. authorities.
Santos turned himself in to federal authorities on Lengthy Island on Wednesday morning and pleaded not responsible to the costs. He mentioned he wouldn’t resign and that he’s been subjected to a — you guessed it! — “witch hunt.”
As my mother used to say, it’s all enjoyable and video games till it’s not. Santos has been a nationwide punchline in one of many weirdest scandals in U.S. congressional historical past (and we’re speaking a couple of governmental physique that was as soon as dwelling to Anthony Wiener!). However now he could also be written out of the story altogether. The U.S. lawyer’s workplace says he may resist 20 years in jail on the highest counts.
The absurdity of the Santos scenario first turned clear to me after I watched a video of him looking for his manner by means of the Home workplace buildings, misplaced however perpetually shifting as a result of he was being trailed and hounded at each step by a scrum of bloodthirsty reporters. He tried to fake they weren’t there; they’d a good time at his expense.
He was barraged with questions like, “Hey George, what’s your identify at this time?” He tried to look dignified, speaking oh-so-seriously into his cellphone as he walked, although I extremely doubt anybody was on the opposite finish.
Santos rapidly turned the butt of the late-night reveals.
“I don’t contemplate the issues I’ve mentioned to be lies,” mentioned a straight-faced Jon Lovitz, impersonating Santos on Jimmy Fallon’s present. “They’re what my great-grandfather, Winston Churchill, would name ‘gildings.’”
On the coronary heart of the joke was the truth that his lies had been so brazen and so egregious — and but so mundane on the similar time. So checkable and disprovable — but so insignificant. Like when he mentioned he had been a “star” on the volleyball staff at Baruch Faculty. I imply, who would lie about that?
It seems he wasn’t on the volleyball staff. And didn’t graduate from Baruch Faculty in any respect. Nor did he attend the Horace Mann Faculty, as he claimed. Nor did he work at Goldman Sachs or Citigroup.
He isn’t Jewish, as he repeatedly claimed to be. Or of Jewish descent. Or “Jew-ish,” as he later mentioned he’d mentioned.
His grandparents didn’t flee Hitler.
His mom was not within the World Commerce Middle through the 9/11 assaults. She wasn’t within the nation in any respect.
Santos’ conduct was laughable, for certain, but in addition it was unsuitable, to not point out creepy. It was Jon Stewart, in the long run, who identified the plain: “We can’t mistake absurdity for lack of hazard,” he mentioned. “Absurdity at all times makes you assume one thing is extra benign than it’s.”
And it’s true: The limitless fabrications are clearly not humorous to Santos’ constituents on Lengthy Island, who now, six months after the 2022 election, are nonetheless represented in Congress by a serial liar. Or to those that donated cash for his election (some portion of which was spent, prosecutors say, on private bills together with “luxurious designer clothes”).
However Stewart meant extra than simply that. He was referring to how so many individuals — himself included — had didn’t take Donald Trump critically at first, seeing him as a innocent clown like Santos.
Trump did seem to be a joke in these early days. He mentioned outrageous issues, advised limitless lies, pushed kooky conspiracy theories and appeared to have little argument for why Individuals ought to vote for him apart from that he was a flashy, wealthy, irreverent TV star.
Anybody who doesn’t bear in mind how unbelievable all of it appeared ought to watch the clip (which I noticed just lately courtesy of journalist Peter Beinart‘s e-newsletter) of then-Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) on ABC Information with George Stephanopoulos and a panel of so-called political specialists in July 2015.
In it, Ellison says that individuals who oppose Trump must get lively, become involved and vote.
“This man has bought some momentum and we’d higher be prepared for the truth that he could be main the Republican ticket,” says Ellison.
At that time everybody on the present bursts into laughter. Peals of laughter, actually. Stephanopoulos, grinning, says — and I don’t actually blame him for this error of monumental historic magnitude, as a result of I in all probability would have felt the identical manner — “I do know you don’t imagine that.”
Ellison doesn’t be a part of within the laughter. He says: “Stranger issues have occurred.”
President Santos anybody?
