Joni (hearse) Ernst’s snarky apology said a little more than she wanted it to – at least the way I heard it. For those who need a refresher here is the 1 minute video where Ernst very sarcastically and snakily makes fun of Iowans who are understandably concerned about the potential loss of their health care insurance AND! the potential loss of their local health care facilities:

Right from the start you can tell that Ernst is being far from sincere. For one thing the setting is in a cemetery. This is hardly the background that conveys seriousness. One would expect a more sedate office background for that.

Ernst’s voice is notably condescending. Her tone is not contrite, but condescending conveying that she is not taking responsibility for her words but is instead blaming the listener for missing the obvious message that she was sending with her “we are all going to die” comment.

Next she gets even a little more condescending, implying that the audience is really stupid – so much so that she would have to tell them that the tooth fairy isn’t real.

Springboarding from the tooth fairy comment Ernst then brings in – based on the context of her commentary and presentation – what must be another fairy tale character when she continues “For those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life I encourage you to embrace my lord and savior Jesus Christ.” 

Feels to me like Ernst is equating Jesus Christ with the tooth fairy in her condescending snark to those who she thinks of as apparently stupid. Seems to me most of the folks of Iowa are religiously inclined. I am surprised that someone hasn’t brought up the conflation of the tooth fairy and Jesus by Ernst. 

Also seems pretty obvious that Senator Ernst has a very low opinion of the intelligence of the Iowa electorate. 

Beyond this most recent incident I was reminded by a friend that back a few years ago Ernst had romantic relationship with a military lobbyist that landed her in some ethical hot water. Once again we see that Ernst is a much less than serious person and certainly less than concerned about Iowans:

“Virginia Canter, a former government ethics lawyer who served in administrations of both parties, said of the relationships with officials advocating before Ernst’s committee: “It kind of takes your breath away.”

The relationships, Canter said, make Ernst vulnerable to being extorted if people learned of them and could give someone undue influence over her.

“It draws into question every position she’s taken that would affect his office,” Canter said. “You’re expecting her to represent her constituents’ interests every time she supports a policy or votes. Once she has engaged in that kind of relationship, you have to call into question her impartiality.”

It is early, but because of crap like the above Ernst has already drawn a couple of solid Democratic candidates that would take the job seriously and would work for Iowans and treat them with the respect they deserve. 

The first one with his hat in the ring was Nathan Sage an everyday working Iowan and an Army and Marine veteran. Sage is on the campaign trail and his message is connecting with real Iowans.

JD Scholten

The second is a man who should have some name recognition with Iowans. That is J.D. Scholten. Scholten ran for congress in the third district a few years back. His policy stances are solidly democratic and he has been staying in touch with Iowans in various ways including his newsletter “You’re Probably Getting Screwed.”