Noem's comments on Weekend Edition Sunday this morning convince me all the more it's arrogance. NPR's Brian Naylor asks Noem about her lengthy record of court-dodging and arrest warrants. She not only ignores those violations, but she tries to dress her unsafe driving up as virtue:
My nature has always been to be in a hurry and to try to get things done, and that's obviously something I need to work at when it comes to my driving record [Kristi Noem, interviewed by Brian Naylor, "Political Pedigree No Longer Protects S.D. Rep," NPR Weekend Edition Sunday, 2010.09.05].
Wow. The gall. Princess Kristi is just trying so hard to get things done, she can't be bothered with something so trivial as a court date. She says she needs to work on her speeding, but she never says she is working on it. She portrays her risky behavior as "her nature," as if it is something beyond her control.
This isn't hard, Kristi. When you're behind the wheel, you don't speed. When you get a ticket, you pay it. When the judge says come to court, you come to court. Quit trying to dress up your problem as "nature" or some noble effort to "get things done" and be responsible. Responsibility is a choice, the kind of choice you Republicans expect of everyone else.
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Update 2010.09.06: Gee, ignoring the law really is a Noem family value:
It isn’t that uncommon in Noem’s family, based on court records since 1989. Noem’s husband, Bryon, had 18 recorded traffic citations during that period, 11 of them for speeding. Noem’s brother, Rock Arnold, had 34 citations during that period, 25 of them for speeding. He also missed court or fine payment dates four times and had warrants issued three times. Another brother, Robb, had 21 citations, including 12 for speeding.
And Noem’s mother, Corinne Arnold, had 11 citations, nine for speeding [Kevin Woster, "Noem Apologizes for Traffic Citations," Rapid City Journal, 2010.09.05].
Good ear, Cory. Chortling as I type.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try the "I'm just in a hurry to get some things done" defense the next time I'm pulled over and see how that goes. Probably not too good for me :-).
ReplyDeleteIf she would just say it was stupid and not a good example, it would basically go away. Either she doesn't have good people around her or refuses to listen. Both of those are as much of a concern as her fairly minor infractions.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Noem's behavior is pure solipsistic entitlement; when she and Bill Janklow meet unexpectedly at a corn-obstructed intersection at 75MPH, the karmic synchronicity will undoubtedly send ip to church after a long hiatus.
ReplyDeleteCheck out Woster's article in the RCJ today.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to the Thune employee, Kevin drops a dime on Kristi's whole family. Wow. I bet Powers and the Noem campaign wish they would have never brought any of that other stuff up.
Instant Karma.
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_268757a4-b876-11df-a43e-001cc4c03286.html
Hmmm. She did acknowledge it was a poor example, but that whole family has a lead foot, besides other infractions. They must think the law is for other fools to follow. Not very impressive.
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