Michael Ramirez: Guest Essay: "Dear Mr. Wheeler" by Bree Lindquist 3-29-25

From America's Premier Editorial Cartoonist

I’m vocal about how unusual sanity is on the left right now. I make no secret of it. When my leftist and liberal friends (and many of my conservative ones) complain to me about Donald Trump’s administration, an easy comeback is, “Well, are you surprised? You’re allowed to argue with some nuance as an independent or a republican. The democrats eat any dissent alive. Who wants to support anyone who is so incredibly cruel to people who just might vote for them?”

Moderation has become so incompatible with the apparent philosophy of the left that when a democrat steps outside of his or her party line, it’s an act of courage and swift consequence. A few days ago, New Hampshire state representative Jonah Wheeler delivered a speech on the house floor explaining his support for a bill that upholds single-sex spaces in certain circumstances, attesting that women have a right to safety and privacy from males. Half of his democratic colleagues walked out to show disdain for this commonsense viewpoint. A few days later, in a vicious struggle session, he was attacked by democratic constituents over Zoom, including old childhood friends and teachers who said he was making the world a more terrible place. He had the conviction and grace to stand by his words, weathering the storm until the stream ended with a barrage of racial slurs and a flood of pornography, because of course it did.

It’s a given that democrats rabidly support abortion rights. But, outside of that, they seem unconcerned and even incensed when women want anything else for themselves. Single-sex spaces exist for a reason, and to show my support for this particular young, reasonable, and passionate voice that is up-and-coming in American politics, I sent him a letter. It’s doubtless one of many he’s received in recent days, but while I’m very angry at democrats as a whole right now for being so stubborn and pigheaded, I can’t ignore the courage and resilience it takes to endure this kind of abuse from your own party in the name of what is right, and not what is popular. I’ve decided to share that letter below, today.