Sharon Kennedy: Shame on you, Tim Walberg

We’re no longer surprised when an elected Republican opens his/her mouth and spits out venom. Last month, Michigan Rep. Tim Walberg of District 5 gave an example of extremism when during a town hall meeting he suggested that Gaza should be treated like Hiroshima. A video was posted on X where Walberg was heard saying the following to a constituent regarding President Biden’s plan to build a pier as a means of providing provisions to Palestinians:

“Joe Biden says we need to get humanitarian aid to Gaza by building a pier to provide the aid. I don’t think we should. We shouldn’t be spending a dime on such aid. It should be like Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Get it over quick.” It didn’t take long for Walberg to jump on X and try to explain his outrageous remarks: “I grew up in the Cold War era. The last thing I’d advocate would be using nuclear weapons. I was speaking metaphorically. Israel and Ukraine need to end their wars as swiftly as possible without putting American troops in harm's way.”

So which statement is true, Tim? The one behind Door No. 1 or Door No. 2? You can’t have it both ways or can you? You’ve been a politician long enough to know you can say one thing at breakfast and spout an entirely different opinion by lunchtime. Do you really think nuking is the answer that will solve the Palestinian problem in Gaza or is this your way of giving false hope to your Jewish constituents?

The publication “The Nation” had this to say about Tim's outburst: “It should have been a much bigger deal [meaning it should have received greater coverage] not only because of the barbarity of the remark but also because it offered more evidence of a Republican Party that has grown increasingly reckless in its embrace of foreign policy extremism. … The people who are most aware of this former pastor’s track record took him at his word. They reacted with horror to the prospect that he was endorsing a 2024 version of the 1945 nuclear attacks that killed several hundred thousand civilians.”

“The New Republic” responded thus: “Palestinians in Gaza are experiencing a humanitarian crisis including starvation and a lack of medical care due to Israel’s war and invasion of the territory which Tel Aviv claims is in response to the Oct. 7 attacks. In Walberg’s eyes, any humanitarian aid to the Palestinians would support Hamas, Iran, Russia and ‘arguably North Korea and China.’”

Prior to jumping on the MAGA megaphone bandwagon, Walberg was, like most members of Congress, unknown and ignored by everyone except a few voters from his district. He is not the only right-wing politician who wants to finish the Gaza problem as quickly as possible. Army veteran Brian Mast, a MAGA Republican representative from Florida, compared Palestinians to Nazis.

In light of the recent bombing of a vehicle clearly marked “World Central Kitchen” (WCK), Walberg and others who agree with him might get their wish regarding a swift end to the Ukrainian and Israeli wars. Jose Andres organized the WCK 14 years ago as a means of bringing food to people facing starvation through natural disasters or war. When humanitarian vehicles are attacked and workers are killed, the disregard for aiding those in need is ignored. The thirst for revenge trumps the Geneva Convention that “provides protection for civilians in a war zone.”

Is Walberg right? Is a quick death via a nuclear attack preferable to a slow death via starvation? Which option would you prefer if you lived in these war zones?

— To contact Sharon Kennedy, send her an email atsharonkennedy1947@gmail.com. Kennedy's new book, "View from the SideRoad: A Collection of Upper Peninsula Stories," is available from her or Amazon.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Sharon Kennedy: Shame on you, Tim Walberg