Missouri has the worst possible governor at the worst possible time.
By: Elijah Braswell, Staff Writer
Missouri Governor Mike Parson should be impeached.
Sure, this is not the best time for it. After all; our state is in the throes of a pandemic. But our current governor’s inept response to this crisis is precisely why now is the time for impeachment.
Governor Parson is not the right person for this office at this time. That alone is reason enough to replace him. However, a deeper examination of Governor Parson’s political history shows he’s not just unfit to be governor; he’s unfit for any public office.
Before we determine whether a person is impeached, we have to define what constitutes an impeachable offense. Article VII of the Missouri Constitution does just that. “All elective executive officials of the state, and judges of the supreme court, courts of appeals and circuit courts shall be liable to impeachment for crimes, misconduct, habitual drunkenness, willful neglect of duty, corruption in office, incompetency, or any offense involving moral turpitude or oppression in office.”
According to government health websites as of the time this is written, Missouri has had 175 deaths due to COVID-19 out of a population of 6 million. Compare that to South Korea, a country of over 50 million people; they have had 214 deaths. Missouri has had over half as many deaths as a country with almost ten times our population.
Even though COVID-19 cases in Missouri continue to rise, Governor Parson still refuses to require non-essential businesses close. In fact, the “stay at home” order he signed allows non-essential businesses to receive exemptions from the social distancing requirements within the order. That alone shows Parson ought to be impeached for incompetence as well as neglect of duty.
To make matters worse, he’s now barred reporters from the COVID-19 briefings in the state Capitol, according to the Kansas City Star. Nor are they allowed to directly, publicly address questions to the governor after the live-streamed announcements. In essence, Parson is desperately attempting to control the narrative that he is in control.
What was Governor Mike Parson’s response to his critics?
“Everybody has a different idea of how that is to be done,” he said. “I will say this, at the end of the day, there will be plenty of time to second-guess who done what, and why they done it.”
Yes, everybody has a different idea of how it should be done. Especially doctors. The Missouri Medical Association as well as many other Missouri medical institutions have publicly called for the closing of non essential businesses. I would rather trust hundreds of doctors than an inept, unelected governor.
Governor Mike Parson was not elected as Missouri’s Governor. He was previously lieutenant governor for the previous governor, Eric Greitens. They ran on a platform of “family values” and many of their ads called their political opponents stances on gay marriage and abortion attacks on those values. While in office, Greitens was indicted on multiple felony charges, and with his wife, publicly admitted to having an affair with a woman who accused him of blackmail and assault. He resigned, and thus Parson ascended to power.
People who pay lip service to “family values” but then back people who value family the least should not be placed in the highest leadership position our state has to offer. That is an impeachable offense of moral turpitude.
It’s clear: Governor Mike Parson is not the person for this position, or any the people should have a choice in.
