by Rep. Jay Hooper

This week I have felt an internal restlessness subsequent to a very unnerving discovery. National news describing covert prejudice of socially colossal proportions, coming from within the political scenes of four different states, one of which is my home. Our youngest Vermont State Senator issued a floundering of unaccountability, of his incidental responsibility to himself and his voters. Well, I guess I have a statement to offer in response to whatever the dishonorable state Senator Sam Douglass is feebly treading here… If I’m reading this correctly, it truly appears as though bro is tryna minimize his involvement with some really wicked political actors… peep the statement, verbatim, just below…

“I completely denounce and fully condemn the vile and disgusting comments included in the POLITICO article and I have cut all ties with those involved. My role in the group chat in question was a procedural one about bylaws and floor strategy. There were often periods of multiples days when I didn’t check this group chat and I was unfortunately unaware of those comments. I should’ve been more vigilant, more careful, and less naive about who I associate with and my digital environments. I will continue to call out this behavior whenever I see it. The comment attributed to me in the article was not a generalization and doesn’t represent my views or character. I apologize so deeply to my constituents and colleagues that our county and state have been dragged into this. I am am currently weighing alloy options to ensure that the outcome of this is what’s best for the safety and wellbeing of my family and my constituency, and I will make another statement before the end of the week.” 

Whenever you see it? Where and when did you call anyone out for this behavior? Show us those texts. Your comments somehow don’t represent your character? Then what in the heavens does such an indefensible comment represent? Break this down for us, Sam. Your safety is indeed important in the aftermath of this major league goof-up, but rest-assured, your constituents will be far better served by a new Senator possessing the wherewithal and presence of maturity to know better than to both participate in a conversation like the one you were privy to for months, not just “periods of multiple days”… as well as the foresight not to make a statement like the one you issued midweek. 

There are no options to weigh here for Sam, he needs to resign. Like, yesterday. It is because he has baulked at the inevitable, that I write to Vermont readers today, as I must implore his colleagues in the Senate, to consider weighing OUR options to discipline the not-so-sorry-Senator as to his disgraceful representation of OUR state. We, the General Assembly, must also ‘cut all ties with those involved.’ Which of course, includes Sam and his spouse. Thus, I have been looking into what those options are…. Really, the optimal outcome here is only one: for the ever-anticipated “statement before the end of the week” to be his unequivocal acknowledgement that he shall no longer hold a seat in the State Senate, and that he is in no-uncertain-terms resigning from the state Legislature, effective immediately. To reiterate, if Sam somehow neglects his immediate obligation to resign, Vermont lawmakers altogether must take strides to condemn his foolish engagements with young Americans who are not political leaders whatsoever.  

The first fifty some odd words of Chapter 11, Section 19 of the Vermont State Constitution reads as follows: 

[The Senate shall have the like powers to decide on the election and qualifications of, and to expel any of, its members, make its own rules, and appoint its own officers, as are incident to, or are possessed by, the House of Representatives…] 

We can give Sam credit for not being the one to say that he loves Hitler, and that he didn’t proclaim that he wants to drive his political rivals to take their own lives, or that the showers should be rigged up to serve as gas chambers for his political foes…. Buuuuut we cannot divorce his direct affiliation to these young politicos over a protracted period, far too long to simply forgive and forget. Since we must counter the contemporary normalization of violent political rhetoric, which should not become commonplace, we have to say to Sam, that he can’t serve anymore. He can’t sit here and act like he did the right thing. He did not.

Reflect Sam. Don’t deliver insincere apology, like you got “dragged into this” … you were there. For the glorification of rape, for the homophobia, for the incendiary comments alluding to genocide, for the blatant racism. What’s worse, is your wife piled-on, for the antisemitism. To refer to “the jew” as though faith in Judaism is subhuman. Tolerance for these statements is an insult to all American veterans. This shit ain’t locker room talk. It isn’t funny, and it isn’t ok. Never was, never will be. 

Celebration of violence is wrong. Every. Single. Time. 

Those who cheered about Charlie Kirk’s assassination should be ashamed. Virginia A.G. candidate Jay Jones probably shouldn’t be on the ballot. Peter Guinta got fired, that’s proportional. Elise Stefanik and her colleagues condemned their understudies; best we can expect. Vermont Governor Scott, without hesitation, said, Sam Douglass, you’re finished; along with all of his party leadership. Please comply with this directive, former Senator Douglass, without passing another moment.

The author is a Democrat member of the House of Representatives from Randolph. Seen in cover photo with other members of the Futures Caucus of the Vermont House.