In a recent opinion editorial for RedState, Brandon Morse highlights what he perceives as a disproportionate focus by Democrats on President Donald Trump's new ballroom at the White House, rather than the ongoing government shutdown.
Morse argues that the construction of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom is a necessary and overdue renovation, replacing the outdated and insufficient East Wing. He contends that the new addition will better accommodate large-scale events and meet modern security needs.
Morse criticizes Democrats for their outrage over the ballroom, suggesting it is hypocritical given their own history of spending taxpayer money on luxury. He cites instances such as Nancy Pelosi's significant expenditure on food and alcohol during her travels on Air Force jets, and Bernie Sanders' use of private jets during his "Fighting Oligarchy" tour. "As I've said repeatedly, the Democrat Party's unofficial motto is 'It's okay when we do it,'" Morse states.
The editorial also recalls a 2010 renovation under President Barack Obama, which reportedly cost taxpayers $376 million. Morse contrasts this with Trump's ballroom, which he claims is privately funded. A CNN report from that time, according to Morse, was notably positive about Obama's renovation efforts.
Morse suggests that Democrats are using the ballroom as a distraction from the government shutdown, which he attributes to their refusal to cooperate. He references a report by his colleague Bob Hoge, noting that Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that only five Democratic votes are needed to reopen the government.
Morse argues that Democrats are instead pushing a "crazy counterproposal" that prioritizes free health care for illegal immigrants and foreign projects.
The editorial further accuses Democrats of using the shutdown as a "leverage" tactic to appeal to their Marxist base, a term Morse attributes to House Democrat Katherine Clark. Clark reportedly acknowledged that families would suffer due to the shutdown, describing it as one of the few leverage opportunities available to Democrats.
Morse concludes that the ballroom controversy is being inflated by Democrats to maintain their narrative during the shutdown. He suggests that their outrage might stem from not having initiated the ballroom project themselves.
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