by Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
Mark “Awful for Missouri” Alford Turns Oversight into a Vacation
When a member of Congress travels overseas on official business, it is not just another trip. It is a chance to show respect to our allies, evaluate America’s readiness, and, most importantly, to honor the service of the men and women who wear our nation’s uniform. But Mark “Awful” Alford has once again shown he does not take his responsibility seriously. He showed up to a U.S. military base visit overseas wearing shorts. Yes—shorts. On an official congressional delegation.
This is not about fashion. It is about respect. It is about representing Missouri and the United States with dignity. When Alford dresses like he is at a backyard cookout instead of an official military briefing, he sends a clear message: he sees his taxpayer-funded trip as a personal vacation, not a solemn duty. That matters, because perception is reality in politics. To the service members standing in full dress uniforms and to the international leaders watching, his choice looked unserious, careless, and disrespectful.
Taxpayer Dollars, Tourist Behavior
Missourians should not have to pay for a congressman to play tourist in Europe. Trips like these are funded by hardworking families—farmers trying to stretch every dollar to cover the cost of feed and fertilizer, veterans navigating a strained VA system, parents working two jobs to keep food on the table. They expect their representatives to treat every dollar as sacred, not as a ticket to a sightseeing junket.
Overseas congressional trips are supposed to be oversight missions. Members of Congress are tasked with inspecting military facilities, understanding regional security threats, and ensuring America’s investments abroad are being spent wisely. These trips are not perks. They are responsibilities. When Alford shows up unprepared and underdressed, it tells Missourians he is not focused on oversight. He is focused on himself.
In a time when so many families in Missouri’s 4th District are fighting to get by, this kind of behavior is salt in the wound. It sends the message that while regular folks struggle, their representative is on a taxpayer-funded European holiday. Missouri families deserve more than a congressman who treats official duties like vacation days.
Respect for Service Members
The men and women stationed overseas sacrifice daily for our nation. They live far from home, work long hours, and serve in conditions that most Americans cannot imagine. When members of Congress visit them, it should be a moment of solidarity and respect. Every detail matters. A representative should carry himself with dignity, because he is not just representing himself—he is representing Missouri, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the entire country.
By showing up in shorts, Alford sent the opposite message. It trivialized the seriousness of the visit. Service members notice these things. They notice when their elected officials stand with them, and they notice when their officials treat their sacrifices as little more than a backdrop for photo opportunities. Missouri deserves a representative who shows gratitude and honor—not one who makes a joke of the occasion.
Missouri Deserves Better
What does this all boil down to? Respect. Respect for the office. Respect for the taxpayers footing the bill. Respect for the service members who deserve to be taken seriously. Mark “Awful” Alford has shown once again that he is more interested in playing celebrity and sightseeing on the taxpayers’ dime than in fulfilling the responsibilities of his office.
Missourians deserve a representative who understands that every trip is about service, not self-interest. Every briefing matters. Every interaction with service members carries weight. Every taxpayer dollar should be treated with care, not wasted on a congressman’s European photo-op in shorts.
When I’m elected as your congressman, I will carry Missouri’s voice with seriousness and respect. I will honor our service members, treat taxpayer funds as sacred, and ensure every action I take reflects the dignity of the office. Shorts on a military base? That will never happen under my watch. Because representing Missouri is not about sightseeing—it is about serving.
Sources:
Ekathimerini – Souda, Larissa Base Upgrades on Agenda