Staff Reports
In a recent display of modern leftist ideology, Stephanie Miller, a known liberal radio host, displayed her admiration for Representative Jasmine Crockett in a literal fashion. Images circulated of Miller bending down to kiss Crockett’s sneakers in an apparent act that some interpreted as idol worship. Among her peers, this was met with visible joy, with onlookers expressing laughter and cheers at the event.
For anyone familiar with the left’s penchant for self-contradiction, this scene might come as no surprise. These are the same individuals often heard protesting against hierarchies and inequities with slogans like “no kings.” Yet here we see them partaking in what some describe as a ceremony of subservience. It’s ironic to condemn others for pledging their allegiance to figures of authority while simultaneously bowing at the feet of their chosen political icons.
Stephanie Miller’s public display is, in many ways, seen as a microcosm of today’s progressive movement. While professing ideals of equality and meritocracy, they sometimes idolize figures not just for their accomplishments or ideas, but also for their status and identity. Jasmine Crockett, who has gained prominence for her criticism of President Donald Trump, becomes a celebrated figure partly for fitting a narrative.
The spectacle brings to light a broader phenomenon in the left’s fascination with mediocrity when it encompasses the right identity checkboxes. Criticism of this tendency often gets deflected with accusations of insensitivity. One must ask: is this a betrayal of the principles of merit and integrity that should underlie public service and leadership?
In the U.S., showing deference has various traditional contexts, but the idea of routine genuflection before leaders contradicts the notion of self-governance and independence. In the end, Miller’s actions—like much of the theatrical virtue-signaling on the left—might amuse some and confuse others, but they ultimately highlight a disconcerting trend: the challenge to genuine meritocracy by symbolic gestures and ideological conformity.
