What’s the matter with this guy?
Rep. Salmon is apparently obsessed with the coming Congressional showdown over the President’s marvelous “Let’s not let the Iranians get nukes until 15 years from now when I’ll be long gone, assuming they don’t cheat and get them earlier which they almost certainly will” treaty with Iran, a jewel in the crown of his proud legacy. The Congressman is so obsessed that he couldn’t stop himself from fear-mongering about the dangers of the agreement while doing a civics presentation at the San Tan Charter School. He also apparently was so passionate that he thought he was talking to teeny voters rather than second and third-graders.
Discussing how vetoes work, Salmon segued into the Iranian deal as an example of a looming one, and explained why a veto would be baaaad. “Do you know what a nuclear weapon is? Do you know that there are schools that train children your age to be suicide bombers?” he was reported as telling the six and seven-year-olds.
Can you say ‘fried in your beds?’
Sure you can!
Parents, understandably, are outraged.
This borders on cruelty, bullying and child abuse. It certainly shows execrable judgment. The President received a lot of deserved criticism for comparing the domestic opposition to his Iran deal to Iranian extremists. In the case of Matt Salmon, he was right.
Ethics Alarms 
Yes, Virginia there is a boogyman.
Criminy. Audience appropriate. Let’s all say “know your audience”.
Did he at least top it all off with a good ole “don’t worry though kiddos, you won’t be around to worry about electing anyone with veto power anyway! YARRRRRR!”
My theory is that there must be something in the water in Mesa that drives politicos nuts. He could always do one of those conspiracy theory tv shows after he resigns from office.
At least that’s a theory. This sounded like a SNL skit, like with Belushi or Chris Farley playing the crazy Rep. who goes on a rant with the the kids.
Mormons terrify their kids from a very young age. I’m sure Matt has spent lots of time teaching Sunday school at his local stake. Probably uses the same speech there.
I don’t understand what you mean here. Mormons are terrorists? Mormons abuse their children?
Certainly the latter.
I live and teach in an area with a large Mormon population and I don’t see child abuse from the Mormons in any different proportion than the rest of the community. Probably less.
One of my favorite clients was molested from age five through fifteen by her Mormon uncle. Her mother defended her uncle rather than her daughter. My daughter in law’s mother and aunts were molested by their father for years. The church covered it up. Theologically it’s a bizarre cult. It’s also essentially a Ponzi scheme economically and a child molestation ring. Other than that, it’s great. See stories about Arizona City and that crazy, nasty Warren Jeffs guy and their headquarters in Texas that was shut down by the Texas police. The states further west are all controlled by the church so they provide cover.
I would be furious.
I haven’t lived in Arizona in almost 20 years and I AM furious. This is what happens when elected officials aren’t at least I.Q. tested before letting them run for office.
Mesa gets whomever the Church puts up for that seat.
LDS? I remember it being a bedroom community of Phoenix, but having a really great air museum, but that’s about it.
Big time. There’s a temple in Mesa. Settlers were dispatched there by Brigham Young or Joseph Smith in the late 19th Century. Totally Mormon through and through.
Far out! The only thing I saw in Mesa was the Air Museum (got to ride in the B-17. Wild ride.), then went back to my hotel.