OPINION
Trump Pays Troops, Democrats Pay Themselves
Kevin McCullough | Oct 06, 2025
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Townhall.com.
If you’re looking for proof that one party still has a shred of seriousness left in this shutdown circus, look no further than two recent developments: a growing roster of lawmakers voluntarily rejecting paychecks while Washington is locked down, and President Trump vowing to the troops that “every last penny” of their pay will be honored despite the stalemate. These aren’t just gestures for show — they underscore a fundamental contrast between those willing to take real hits for principle and those content to posture for cameras and cable hits.
From Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) to Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), Tom Barrett (R-Mich.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), and Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.), a growing number of Republican lawmakers have formally requested that their pay be withheld during the shutdown. Some senators — like Lindsey Graham — have gone further, pledging to donate their salaries while the impasse continues. They don’t have to do it. Federal law requires that members of Congress be paid even during a shutdown, and the 27th Amendment ensures their salaries can’t be altered until after the next election. So yes, it’s technically symbolic — but in a world where symbolism has become the coin of political currency, this gesture carries real weight.
It says, “If we’re forcing ordinary Americans to live without a paycheck because government is bloated, wasteful, or mismanaged, then we should share in that pain.” That’s leadership by example — a rare thing in a city addicted to finger-pointing and immunity from consequence. While these lawmakers tighten their belts, Democrats in Congress haven’t exactly been lining up to join them. They’re still collecting full pay while lecturing about “shared sacrifice.” They talk endlessly about compassion, equity, and fairness — but when it comes time to lead by example, they vanish faster than a government grant on a pet project.
The same contrast shows up on the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue. While bureaucrats wring their hands and the media breathlessly tally up “shutdown victims,” President Trump stood before troops and promised them “every last penny” of their pay. He didn’t hedge it with an asterisk. He didn’t hide behind bureaucratic language. He looked the men and women who defend this country in the eye and said they will get paid. Period. In a time when most politicians’ statements sound like a lawyer’s footnote, that clarity matters. It’s called standing with the people who make the country function — not the ones who make it fail.
...
READ MORE: https://townhall.com/columnists/kevinmccullough/2025/10/06/trump-pays-troops-democrats-pay-themselves-n2664511
***
Chân thành cám ơn Quý Anh Chị ghé thăm "conbenho Nguyễn Hoài Trang Blog"
Xin được lắng nghe ý kiến chia sẻ của Quý Anh Chị trực tiếp tại Diễn Đàn Paltalk: 1Latdo Tapdoan Vietgian CSVN Phanquoc Bannuoc.
Kính Chúc Sức Khỏe Quý Anh Chị.
conbenho
Tiểu Muội quantu
Nguyễn Hoài Trang
07102025
__________________________
Cộng sản Việt Nam là TỘI ÁC
Bao che, dung dưỡng TỘI ÁC là ĐỒNG LÕA với TỘI ÁC
No comments:
Post a Comment