Letters to the Editor – September 20, 2023
The problem: Senator Chuck Schumer’s order that the dress code for senators should no longer be enforced.
How could Senator Chuck Schumer so denigrate the dignity of the Senate (“Schu approves of sloppy Senate,” September 18)?
Staff and Senators dress appropriately out of respect for the institution of this chamber and their work.
I’m looking forward to some C-SPAN footage of a nearly empty Senate wearing a variety of casual clothing, perhaps even tank tops, shorts and flip-flops.
Richard D Wilkins
Syracuse
How about American citizens deciding the new dress code for all of Washington, considering what a circus it has become?
I vote for little red noses, giant bow ties and floppy hats.
Then at least we can laugh when they act like clowns.
Marion McLaren
Bay shore
Why did Schumer change Sen. John Fetterman’s dress code?
Is it somehow related to the physical challenges his stroke presented?
Sens. John McCain, Bob Dole and Daniel Inouye all managed to put on a suit and tie a tie despite their war injuries.
Are Fetterman’s challenges comparable to hers?
Oscar Huttner
Solebury, Pennsylvania.
I voted for Fetterman as my senator and would do so again.
However, I am disappointed in him because he lacks decency and respect for his colleagues, as evidenced by his extremely casual and embarrassing clothing.
I also feel disappointed in Schumer for highlighting Fetterman’s penchant for inappropriate clothing by instructing the sergeant at arms not to enforce the panel’s longstanding dress code, which requires male senators to wear a tie and jacket on the floor must.
When baseball players become part of the New York Yankees, they know that they must be groomed and they will invariably comply to be part of a legendary organization.
The same should also apply in the Senate.
A member should not have the ability to force 99 colleagues to bend to his wishes.
Oren Spiegel
Peters Township, Pennsylvania
I attended and completed the technical course at George Westinghouse HS in Brooklyn (1967-1971) and we were required to wear a jacket and tie throughout the four years of training.
Can you believe we had more class in class than the Senate in the Senate?
Andrew Watz
Glendale
Schumer is the consummate politician and swings like a weather vane.
It’s no surprise that he overturned the established professional dress code for Senate members.
Schumer wanted to accommodate Fetterman, whose signature clothing style is a hoodie, shorts and sneakers, even at formal events.
Unfortunately for Schumer, demeanor doesn’t matter, so he’s lowering the bar for standard professional attire.
Schumer, clothes make the man and professional clothes need to be taken care of.
Michael Headley
Brooklyn
The people of Pennsylvania should be ashamed of their senator.
The dress code for senators was downgraded because of Fetterman.
We are seeing the same deterioration in the Senate as in many of our major cities.
Fetterman should be ashamed of himself and the people of the beautiful state of Pennsylvania should vote him out at the next opportunity.
Donald Riccio
Manchester, Conn
So instead of addressing our country’s big issues like the economy, border crises, migrant influx, inflation or national defense, Schumer spent his time working on changing the Senate’s dress code.
Now Fetterman can appear in the Senate in shorts and a hoodie and vote.
The Senate will now be converted into a regular social hall. and we will now see weighty debates being conducted in shorts, hoodies and sweatshirts. How undignified.
Harold Fishman
Manhattan
Now, if esteemed Senator Fetterman decides to go to the Senate “au naturalel,” will Schumer change the dress code again?
Just ask.
Stephen Beccalori
Douglaston
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