By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Missouri Governor Mike Parson, a Republican, and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat, are agreeing to disagree better.
Parson and Kelly are participating in a National Governor Association initiative to elevate political discourse. As part of it, Kelly and Parson met at a Kansas City barbecue restaurant to cut a public service announcement in which Parson chose Kansas City, Missouri barbecue and Kelly chose Kansas City, Kansas barbecue, bantering with each other about which is better.
Parson admits the PSA might be a little cheesy, but he believes in the message: treat people with respect, even when you disagree with them. Besides, Parson says he and Kelly have worked together to promote both states’ best interests, such as when they cooperated to lure USDA offices from Washington, D.C. to Kansas City, Missouri.
“And we worked together then with the governor and figured out a way to, look, this is a win-win for our region of the state and for her state,” Parson tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “You get things like that accomplished.”
Parson says though he and Kelly disagree on many issues, they can work together and show respect for each other.
“There’s so much divisiveness in this country, in the political arena especially. I think there are certain things that we all know from the political range what we believe in and who we are, but I think it’s also important to realize the things you can agree on,” Parson says. “And I think that’s what the message of that was for.”
Parson says he and Kelly will not agree on the Second Amendment, abortion, and other issues, but can put those aside when working toward the best interest of both states.
Parson supports the NGA initiative, insisting that politics needs to return to showing opponents respect.
“I think when I look back on it some day, you know of all the things that have occurred, one of the things I’ve always tried to do is be respectful of people, even when I disagreed (with them), even the days as a sheriff,” Parson, former Polk County Sheriff, says. “I think there’s a way you handle things. I think we need to set an example for the next generation how you can work together on things you agree on and things you don’t agree on, you need to go your separate ways and move on.”
Click HERE for more on the Disagree Better initiative.