Stay classy, Senator.
Minnesota lawmaker Calvin Bahr took part in a Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor Zoom meeting that was streamed on YouTube yesterday. For some incomprehensible reason, he couldn’t be bothered to put on a shirt. When the time comes for him to vote on something or other, Bahr appears bare-torsoed with a School House Rock “I’m Just a Bill” background behind him, then the camera quickly switches off to show just his name on a black screen.
He appeared to be lying on his side. Maybe he’s sick: it doesn’t matter. He had an obligation to make an effort to be professional. He represents the citizens of Minnesota.
A few weeks before he died of cancer, John Wayne got out of bed, pulled on a wet suit to wear under his tux so his weight loss wouldn’t be so obvious, and appeared as a presenter at the Oscars. He got dressed because he respected the institution, his industry, and the American public he knew would be watching. Senator Bahr could have mustered the energy to pull on a damn shirt. That he appeared this way in an official meeting with his colleagues demonstrates an absence of dignity, decorum, respect and common sense.
Ethics Alarms 
That it instantly reverted to a black screen says to me that he did not anticipate appearing that way on screen. Either he thought the background would obscure his bare chest or he didn’t know the camera was on.
You’d think after three plus years of video chats caused by Covid that people would finally figure out how to use their devices.
At least, I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t mean to be seen. For all we know, he did.
During the lockdowns when we needed to have Zoom meetings, I made sure that I was clean shaven, and had on reasonable clothes on so that I appeared as if I was at an in person meeting. Although I had never used Zoom or any similar apps before, I still new to check the background behind me. If I can do that then there is no reason anyone else can’t do that apart from general slovenliness and lack of respect for their colleagues and anyone else watching.
Did he do a Toobin?
jvb
A sticky note over the web camera prevents these sort of incidents. I would have thought more people would have noticed that by now.
Or he just didn’t care. If he is that irresponsible or that stupid, he surely shouldn’t hold any public office. This is not to say that a large number of elected officials are also not stupid or irresponsible: the difference is that the second group is also too egotistical to botch a Zoom appearance.
Agreed.
jvb
Well Jut, I guess he’s not above average because he’s no longer a child. Age-wise, at least.