My apologies, it wasn't my intent to imply that myth. I actually completely agree with your position on short selling. At the time of writing it just seemed a bit weird to me, and possibly an incorrect alignment of interests, for a US politician to take a short position in SPY...
Can we please stop perpetuating the myth that short selling, or holding short positions, is some kind of exotic or shady or villainous activity ?
It's not. Short selling, and the holding of short positions, is value neutral and is part of a healthy properly functioning marketplace.
I don't know what politicians should or should not be doing but a long vs. short distinction is silly.