It was close, but the mandatory recount in Colorado’s Third Congressional District election between incumbent Lauren Boebert and Democratic challenger Adam Frisch has reinforced what was already known. Boebert won, but not by a lot — less than 600 votes. In response, Boebert posted a lo-fi thank you video to her Twitter account.
The video shows an unusually subdued Boebert exhibiting a quieter, let’s-get-to-work tone.
Hey, everyone! I am happy to report all the counties in Colorado’s Third District have completed their recount. We’ve won this election as expected, and I’m headed back to represent you in Washington D.C.
I can’t thank you enough for all of your support. I am so thrilled the Republicans will now hold the gavel in the people’s house, and I’m thrilled to be representing you in that majority.
Since the day I announced I was running for Congress, this has been about doing everything I can to help get our country back on track, and put a hard stop to the hard left’s move toward socialism. It’s our responsibility now, and my responsibility personally, to take the opportunity you’ve entrusted me with, and make you proud. To lead with strength. To lead with grace. And, to work hard every day to represent you the very best way I know how.
And, that starts with a promise. A promise to you to be a good listener. To take a deep breath, and help take the temperature down in D.C. After all, the weight this responsibility of being the majority holds requires discipline and targeted focus. It’s time we show how to get real work done for the people. We as Republicans must now prove we deserve to be in the majority, and to stand for the policies that help every American overcome challenges so we can all live our very best lives.
I haven’t lived a perfect life. I haven’t taken a common path to get here. Far from it, in fact! But, the lessons I’ve learned along the way motivate me to stand up for our conservative principles, to be a strong voice for freedom, and to always do everything I can to help secure our God-given rights.
I know in my heart this is a worthy mission. So, thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and allowing me the opportunity to represent you, to represent our state, our communities, and the USA. God bless each and every one of you. I hope you’re having a great holiday season with the ones that you love. And, if you have the opportunity, give them an extra snuggle.
The knee-jerk response to Boebert’s message is, “Oh great — she got scared because her re-election was so close, so now she’s going soft. RINO!” The truth is, what she showcases in this message is that rare element indeed in modern politics: principled pragmatism.
It’s all too easy to be a firebrand throwing red meat and winning acclaim from that crowd portion screaming, “We need FYTERZ!!!” We are in far greater need of people who get things done. Setting all pro and con arguments regarding 2024 aside, President Trump got things done when in office. In Florida, Ron DeSantis gets things done. On the civilian side, with his ceaseless efforts to register and motivate voters, Scott Presler gets things done, something Ronna McDaniel cannot claim even as she does so.
Principled pragmatism realizes you cannot flip a switch one morning and make the country right again from top to bottom. You take things one matter at a time, not going for shortcuts or cheap symbolism in lieu of substance. Principled pragmatism realizes the uselessness of preaching to the choir. It reaches out to people directly, ignoring the media, as through facts, calm logic, and thought-out reason, it seeks to emulate the Marines’ mantra of winning over hearts and minds.
The average citizen isn’t politically obsessed. Their knowledge is filtered down from media lies and disseminated through shared experience. It takes pointing out the obvious and exposing the absurd, not through fire-breathing stunts but instead emulating our Lord speaking through the prophet Isaiah:
“Come now, and let us reason together.”
It’s interesting that more modern translations read:
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.”
A call to action. A clear response regarding the action’s benefits. Why snarl at others when you can smile? Berating someone for the error of their ways is easy but almost invariably counterproductive. Is our purpose scoring brownie points among the fringe or inviting others to the broad truth? If it is the former, there is no purpose.
Whether Boebert’s more welcoming tone remains in place once the new Congress is seated remains to be seen. That said, softening rhetoric without softening resolve or goals is something well worth supporting. It is exciting to see what will come next.