Nearly everyone has been affected by the restrictions imposed by COVID-19. Whether it was having to work from home, having to quickly learn how to homeschool your children, or missing out on large gatherings with family and friends, we all have had to carry the burden of restrictions to help keep our neighbors safe and healthy.

Recently, Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, was seen attending a party at an upscale restaurant in Napa Valley. Newsom was not practicing social distancing, nor was he wearing a mask. While apologizing for his hypocrisy, the California governor went so far as to lie about the restaurant being outside. Newsom’s apology came a day after he announced further restrictions due to the increase of community spread COVID-19 cases in California.

In another example of COVID-related hypocrisy, Mayor Bowser of Washington D.C. attended Joe Biden’s political rally in Delaware on the Saturday after the election. A week before, Bowser ordered all people traveling from high-risk areas to quarantine for fourteen days after their arrival in Washington D.C. However, Bowser did not quarantine when she returned to her city, stating that going to a political rally was “essential travel.” 

Families all across the country are being forced to pick only ten people to attend weddings and funerals because of restrictions, while the politicians who implemented them endorse, and sometimes join thousands of people gathered in crowds to protest. In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot joined in with a massive crowd of people celebrating Biden winning the presidency. When asked about the hypocrisy, Lightfoot stated “That crowd was gathered whether I was there or not.”

Even more recently, the mayor of Denver, Michael Hancock, visited his daughter in Mississippi over Thanksgiving, boarding a flight to Houston a day before the holiday. Thirty minutes before his flight took off, Hancock tweeted a reminder to the people of Colorado to stay home, and host virtual gatherings instead of meeting in person.

The “do as I say, not as I do” mentality among politicians who have implemented tougher COVID restrictions, then refused to follow the orders themselves, is sickening. This level of hypocrisy from politicians should concern everyone, regardless of your thoughts on the current pandemic. Please, expect better from your representatives. Hold them accountable for their actions at the ballot box.

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509-4604; telephone 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov