Below you’ll find our weekly editorial column from former Congressman George Santos. As the Washington Post boldly proclaims “Democracy Dies in Darkness,” it is our mission in the South Shore Press to hold government accountable and serve as a beacon for thought provoking journalism that encourages healthy discourse.
When we fulfill that mission, and I believe the South Shore Press does that in our weekly print edition and online at SouthShorePress.com, then our community benefits by engaging in healthy debate without sharp elbows, nasty barbs, or the deep divisions that permeate the political arena.
If you’ve been reading editorial columns from Mr. Santos, you would have noticed that he’s been writing about important issues pertaining to public service, specific bills in Congress, and the 2024 Presidential race.
So far he’s touched on media bias during the first Presidential debate between President Trump and Kamala Harris (below), Continuing Resolutions (CR’s) in Congress that are blowing big holes in budgets, the importance of government being open and transparent with the people they serve (us), and the digital manipulation of political ads meant to deceive voters.
These are some pretty heavy and critically important issues that have a direct impact on Suffolk County voters, and we are proud to bring them to the forefront of the political season of 2024.
This brings me to our next update concerning former Congressman Santos. Yours truly and a film crew sat down with him for a lengthy, exclusive, on camera interview that explored a ton of relevant topics to him, his self-inflicted downfall, recent guilty plea, his upbringing, and thoughts on the 2024 Presidential Election.
In my journalism career that dates back to November of 1993, this was bar none one of the most interesting and thought provoking interviews I’ve ever conducted. I’ve asked tough questions of many heavy hitters in the world of politics: former President George H.W. Bush, his son and also former President George W. Bush, former Vice President Gore, and former First Lady and Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton are just a few of those I’ve had one-on-one interviews with.
My mission when sitting down with George Santos was to avoid “bomb throwing” and engage in a deep, thoughtful discussion with him about his life and what led to him pleading guilty to federal campaign finance related charges.
What you’ll see is Mr, Santos being contrite, humble, apologetic, thoughtful, and caring during the multi-part series that will first appear on our Twitter page: @SSPNewsroom.
He spoke of the pain of communicating with his autistic niece on the possibility of him going to jail. There’s also the deep psychological impact of attending Congressional orientation in 2020 (Santos was ahead on Election night) for new members, only to be pulled aside and told Governor Cuomo ordered 70,000 absentee ballots to be counted at the height of the COVID crisis and he actually lost. This impacted him deeply.
Santos also has an interesting answer on the question: would you ask President Trump for a pardon. Be sure to keep an eye out on our Twitter page @SSPNewsroom for this multi-part series.
No punches were pulled. No questions were given in advance. It is an intriguing and thought provoking interview with a national newsmaker that you will find nowhere else but the South Shore Press.
Agree with him or not, and it’s perfectly understandable and rational if you do not, you’re not going to want to miss this exclusive series, one that shines a bright light and offers new insights on one of the biggest stories to engulf our country this century.