“A typical vice of American politics is the avoidance of saying anything real on real issues.” —Theodore Roosevelt
Avoidance. Where is Senator Ayotte? In the past couple years I’ve attended numerous events. The events vary in scope and content. The entire congressional delegation is always invited. I’ve seen Senator Shaheen, Representative Guinta, Representative Kuster. I’ve never seen Senator Ayotte. Who is seen is a nondescript staffer reading monotonously from a sheet of paper. The Staffer apologizes and says, “Regretfully, Senator Ayotte was unable to be here today due to pressing commitments.”
Since being elected, rare is the occasion where Senator Ayotte makes an appearance in the Granite State. Instead of “Where’s Waldo,” we’re all here playing, “Where’s Kelly?” Ah! There she is on Fox News with Shannon Bream. “Where’s Kelly?” Ah! There she is! She is on ABC with George Stephanopolous. Ah! There is on CNN with Candi Crowley. Ah! There she is again, traveling the country with Lindsey Graham and John McCain. She is reasonably visible on the national front. Senator Ayotte, however has become invisible to the people that elected her.
Lindsey Graham is now in the 2016 Presidential Race. Noticeably absent from his side is John McCain and Kelly Ayotte. Graham’s campaign is faltering with not even a percentage of polling support. It becomes clear that Senator Ayotte has landed her space and place within the Washington Establishment. Avoidance of we, the unwashed. Avoidance of presence in the district. Avoidance of tough issues. Avoidance of directly addressing scandals. Avoidance of constituents, except by proxy.
If you want to see Senator Ayotte, you have to tune into a major network. When it comes to Senator Ayotte, you are not likely to see her in the Granite State. Unless, of course, her presence is required for a Family Barbecue (actually, it is a fundraiser).
