Boise Mayor McLean and General Labrador's Flag Fight

All this flag flying and finger wagging drives echo chamber engagement while the rest of us laugh at the hypocrisy of it all.

Attorney General Raul Labrador recently took time out of his busy culture war calendar to send a sternly worded letter to Boise Mayor Lauren McLean, demanding she remove the pride flag from flying in front of Boise City Hall. His argument? A new state law says no “ideological” flags on government buildings. Never mind that the law has no enforcement mechanism.

Attorney General Raul Labrador's Letter to Boise Mayor Lauren McLean

But let’s rewind to May 2020, when Labrador made his own bold political statement — one that also broke the rules. At the height of Idaho's COVID lockdown orders, Labrador gleefully marched into Hardware Brewing Company in North Idaho, posing shoulder-to-shoulder with then-Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin for a photo-op. The brewery had defied state shutdown orders by re-opening early, and Labrador seemed to really want that Facebook photo.

Former Lt. Governor Janice McGeachin and Raul Labrador jumped at the chance to pander to their base by openly defying the rules in the spring of 2020.

Now fast-forward to 2024. Labrador is back in office and suddenly very concerned about public officials respecting the rules.

You’d think a man who defied the rules of law and order might hesitate before wagging his finger at the Boise mayor for not following the rules. But no, self-awareness isn’t exactly one of Labrador’s strengths.

Boise Mayor McLean, for her part, seems to have read the bill, noted the lack of penalties, and decided, “Cool, let’s keep flying the pride flag.” It’s a classic symbolic gesture. The same kind of thing Labrador and his far-right allies specialize in — whether it’s standing in front of a shuttered brewery, listing their California lockdown grievances with Idaho legislation, or co-sponsoring bills that say something without doing anything.

The bill in question — HB 96 — was brought by Rep. Heather Scott. She has a long history of virtue signaling that she’s offended by rainbow flags and sees them as a tool to normalize a lifestyle her side views as sinful. Of course, she was also famously photographed displaying a Confederate flag while campaigning at a local parade. Flags for me, but not for thee… well played Rep. Greenbean.

Rep. Heather Scott proudly displayed her pride flag.

The law they passed bans “ideological flags,” yet it fails to define what that even means or how anyone would enforce it. This is another perfect example of a solution in search of a problem, and in this case, a “Rule in Name Only,” which is fitting for those who like to call others RINOs.

Neither McLean nor Labrador is being subtle here. This is political virtue signaling, pure and simple. McLean is playing to her left-leaning base with the added bonus of triggering the far-right, and Labrador’s letter is designed to give his base something to post on X and Truth Social. It’s all the same playbook — pick a political hot potato, rally the base, and make it go viral.

But there’s a darker message behind Idaho’s loudest culture warriors. Their nonstop drumbeat of fear — aimed at LGBTQ Idahoans, immigrants, teachers, and anyone they brand a “leftist” — isn’t just noise. It’s designed to wear people down, to make them feel like outsiders in their own state. Team Labrador doesn’t hide it either. They openly joke about chipping in for U-Hauls to drive out anyone who isn’t straight, white, Christian, and conservative.

Now, don’t get me wrong about this bill. I like the idea of our state and local government remaining ideologically neutral. I’m all for a bill that restricts government flag flying to government flags only, so long as it is presented as a neutral bill and not an intentional slight against any particular community.

So maybe, just maybe, General Labrador should sit this one out. Because if he‘s offended by a Democrat mayor pandering to her base while doing the same damn thing to win his election, he really needs to chill.

I would not complain if this flag were being flown.

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About the Author
Gregory Graf is the creator of Political Potatoes and a lifelong conservative Republican. His articles often criticize the hypocrisy committed by far-right grifters who’ve taken control of the GOP. Graf is the CEO of Snake River Strategies, a strategic communications and political consulting firm based in Eagle, Idaho. You can follow Graf’s work on X, Threads, or Facebook.

Disclaimer
The following is intended to convey an opinion on newsworthy events of public concern regarding public figures and/or public officials in exercising their official duties. No implications or inferences—beyond those explicitly stated in the preceding— are intended to be conveyed or endorsed by the Author. Wherever available, hyperlinks have been provided to allow readers to directly access any underlying assertions of fact upon which this opinion is based.

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