Letter: Rogues and one hero

Graphic by Lori Deaton

Following violence in the Capitol building, the U.S. House proceeded to certify the presidential vote. Vice President Pence stated that he did not have the unilateral power to alter the results sent by the states to Congress. The vote was symbolic only; Mr. Biden was the president-elect.

Then came the violence, deliberately incited by Trump. He said to the mob, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol … show strength.” He said he would go with them, but — no.

Here is the list of rogues voting “yes,” meaning against certifying Biden as the next president: Dan Bishop, R-9th District; Ted Budd, R-13th District; Madison Cawthorn, R-11th District; Virginia Foxx, R-5th District; Richard Hudson, R-8th District; Gregory F. Murphy, R-3rd District; and David Rouzer, R-7th District.

They did not keep their oath to the Constitution but supported Trump — even after the mob invasion to our Capitol.

Like Benedict Arnold, they have no defense.

We should honor one Republican hero, Patrick McHenry, R-10th District, who said that his vote was based on the Constitution. Thank you, Congressman McHenry.

Let’s make sure we remember the rogues, who did not honor their oath to the Constitution, in the next congressional election.

— John White
Raleigh

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10 thoughts on “Letter: Rogues and one hero

  1. Dopamina

    If you have Cawthorn as your Congressboy, be sure to call and email his office often and encourage him to resign for being a traitor! Try to be polite but also stand firm.

    It’s quick and easy to make your voice heard:
    (202) 225–6401 – DC Office

    Or email:
    https://cawthorn.house.gov/contact

    Most reps get a compiled report each day of what their constituents are calling and emailing about. The Congressboy may not hear your complaint verbatim but he will probably be informed how many of his constituents think he’s a traitor.

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  2. Michael Hopping

    It is indeed a sad commentary on Republican degeneracy that only one North Carolina congressman with an R behind his name still stands for free and fair elections in the United States. For those of us who honor the generations that struggled to leave us the legacy of democratic institutions it’s time to recall the famous words of German pastor Martin Niemöller;

    First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
    Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
    Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
    Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

    Our ancestors fought fascists. Let’s not totally dishonor their memory.

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  3. Elusive Wit

    I agree with you John. Those seven people were elected to represent the voice of the people of WNC. We will have to decide if those seven “rouge votes” are actually reflecting the values we hold. By voting the way they did are they saying they believe the Big Lie told by trump and his allies that the election was unfair and therefore stolen? Or are they just showing that they are afraid to take a stand on the side of truth because by doing so would cost them votes from the trump base?
    Do we want our representative to vote for what is better for all of us with truth and integrity in mind or to vote just to make a name for themselves and protect their seat in congress?

    In May 2016 Lindsey Graham tweetd: “If we nominate trump we will get destroyed and we will deserve it”. Democracy needs at least two distinct healthy parties to operate at peak performance. It seems now that the GOP is fracturing, splitting into two different sides, one side being those who are ok with outright lies, corruption and conspiracy’s. . The anger and rage that these people have has been fomented and encouraged by trump for the last five years. We saw that group on the steps of the capitol Jan. 6. By voting the way they did these seven rouges continue to feed this anger and resentment these people feel. The people on the steps of the Capitol are and will be their only voter base in future elections. We have to ask ourselves do they reflect who we are? I tend to think they are in the minority and that there are many more people who feel this dark ugly path that trumpisim is leading people down is not one we want to follow. Trump is a sore loser with an extraordinary ego and can not accept defeat. He has created a dangerous atmosphere with his lies and has divided not only our country but his own party. By ignoring this and the events that have occurred since the election will not allow us to move forward. Those responsible must be held accountable or else we will see more violence, anger and crazy chaos in the future. Perhaps it would be an idea for trump to just start his own third party. I believe the reason he doesn’t is because he knows he would only have a small fraction of support from all of the GOP. Just because he has large, loud angry crowds at his rallies doesn’t necessarily mean he has the support from every republican voter.
    It has been said it is easier to fool someone than it is to convince them they have been fooled. I hope these seven rouges take time to reflect on their own values and consider that those of us who will be voting for them may be a much larger, although less vocal, and violent group. We will watch how they vote and adjust our vote accordingly.
    I suggest everyone who is stuck at home and even everyone else to watch the trial starting today in the senate and listen with an open mind. Decide which side is standing with truth, integrity and principles and which is based on cowardice, lies, and conspiracy. The future fate of our nation depends on what we do today.

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  4. Enlightened Enigma

    Why did Donald J Trump, as President never issue Executive Orders to STOP the mass mailout of UNsolicited, un requested BALLOTS across the country? Not stopping that BS
    is what cost him the election. Apparently he/they were just too stupid to do what was needed to keep the office. WHY has this question never been asked ?

    • North Asheville

      From Reuters:
      https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-80-million-unsolicited-ball/fact-check-clarifying-trumps-80-million-unsolicited-ballots-claim-idUSKBN2622SZ

      Trump on Aug. 4 called Florida’s election system “Safe and Secure, Tried and True” and urged voters in the Republican state to vote by any means, including by mail.

      Experts say that election fraud is very rare in the United States, where nearly one in four voters cast a mail-in or absentee ballot in 2016.

      There are multiple layers of security in place for mail-in ballots, also known as “absentee” ballots, including the Electronic Registration Information Center ( http://www.ericstates.org ) and adherence to the National Voter Registration Act’s list of maintenance procedures.

      The National Conference of State Legislatures provides information on home voting, including a section on security features in place here .

      Measures to counter voter fraud include hand-marked paper ballots, signature verification, examining and processing ballots ahead of election day to allow for more verification time, up-to-date address information, security cameras during storage, and many more (see Security Features of Voting by Absentee/Mailed Ballots section here bit.ly/33vUvBA ).

      Commissioner Hovland told Reuters these sort of unfounded claims “ignore the repeated calls of elections professionals, both Democrat and Republican, that say this is a safe, normal process with procedures in place to ensure the process upholds the integrity of an election.”

      The Reuters Fact Check team has previously debunked several viral claims linking the use of mail-in ballots to voter fraud .
      VERDICT

      False. 80 million “unsolicited” mail-in ballots will not be sent to voters ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Ten states and jurisdictions are proactively sending out ballots, some for the first time due to the coronavirus pandemic, for an approximately 44.2 million registered voters in total.

    • Elusive Wit

      Enlightened Enigma writes….”Apparently he/they were just too stupid to do what was needed to keep the office.” Meaning the reason DJT lost the election was because he was too stupid? I suppose that is a possibility, but also the fact that the president doesn’t have authority to control elections. In the United States, states have primary responsibility for the administration of federal elections. Congress, not the president has the authority to regulate a particular type of election and may vary depending on whether that election is for the Presidency, the House, the Senate, or for state and local positions.
      Maybe he lost the election because he was too stupid as you suggest, but he is also a pathological liar, an egotistical, vindictive, weak minded person who puts himself and his personal interests above those of the country. Over the last five years he has consistently sown much hate, anger, divisiveness and just pure chaos. So it is also a strong possibility that the American people have grown tired of his style of politics. Maybe they have decided he does not posses the qualities such as honesty and integrity that are required to be the leader of the US. He cost himself the election is correct but not only because he is stupid.
      What is really unfortunate is that his inability to accept that loss has caused him to create an alternative reality and make false claims that the election was a fraud and was rigged against him. He has repeated this lie so often (without credible evidence ) that many people also believe this and now live in his alternative reality with him.
      What would happen if by some intuitive grasp of reality he would just come out and say that he knows he really lost and apologize for all the discord he has caused?

    • James

      The states where “unsolicited” ballots were sent out were safe Blue states for the most part. Utah sent out those ballots but Trump still won that state. So as always you only have some dust you are throwing in our faces that obscures the fact there is nothing to your whining.

      Those states per Reuters?
      Colorado; Hawaii; Oregon; Utah; Washington; California; Washington, D.C; Nevada; New Jersey; and Vermont.

  5. Broadway Barney

    Before we give the diminutive Mr. McHenry too much credit, let’s recall that he voted to remove and replace major parts of the Affordable Care Act in May, 2017. Just because he’s not full tilt crazy (think Cawthorn, Taylor-Greene and Boebert), doesn’t mean he’s on the side of the little guy.

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    • Curious

      “. . . the diminutive Mr. McHenry . . .”
      Is Mr. McHenry’s height significant to his abilities or accomplishments?
      Mahatma Gandhi – 5’4”
      James Madison – 5’4″
      Alexander Hamilton 5’7″
      Harry Truman 5’8″
      https://youtu.be/8bfyS-S-IJs

  6. Mike Goodman

    To do the bare basic minimum is now considered heroism, for Republicans.

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