Expectations usually aren't high when GOP politicians give graduation speeches, but Senator Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska) somehow managed to screw up wishing congratulations and good luck to his alma mater's outgoing seniors.
Speaking to students from Fremont High School, Ben Sasse made countless jokes labeled "unfunny" by most in attendance.
Along the way, he insulted the graduating seniors, made multiple racist comments about China, and slammed psychologists the world over.
Sasse remarked:
"Congratulations, parents, teachers, coaches. Not that there's any meaningful distinction between those categories anymore. If you're a parent, you're a teacher… thanks a lot China."
Sasse said of psychologists:
"95% of all gainfully employed psychologists — and I'm serious there are dozens of them that are gainfully employed —- their job is really just to help people forget high school ... If you're headed to college, do not — do not — major in psychology. That part's not a joke."
The Senator's speech was so bizarre and politically charged that it drew a rebuke from multiple local organizations.
Even a member of the school board spoke out about the Senator's address.
Sasse went on to say even more about China.
"Nobody knows exactly how we're going to beat this thing, but you know what, we're Americans, we're Nebraskans, we've got grit and we're going to beat this thing. We will bring the economy back. We are going to beat the virus... We're going to have to have a serious reckoning with the thugs in China who let this mess spiral out of control by lying about it."
Chris Janieck, the Democrat who will be running against Sasse's in November's election, also commented on the ill-fated speech.
"It's hard for me to believe that a US senator would make remarks like he did in that speech. Ridiculing mental health care specialists, suggesting that the graduates are lazy slackers and using the platform to blame China for the pandemic we have now is beyond reprehensible."
Twitter wasted no time in roasting the Senator for his lapse in judgement.
Nebraskans may well remember this incident come next November.
It's not hard to give a good graduation address, but for some Republican Senators, every speech is an opportunity to put your foot in your mouth.
