Despite the right-wing media spin machine, it is clear that once the former president realized he had lost the 2020 election and his last avenue for legal appeal was over, he launched a campaign to stage a coup to thwart the peaceful transfer of power to the duly elected choice of the people. This involved illegal plans to seize voting machines by the Defense department, Homeland Security and the Department of Justice.
When he discovered this was impossible, he attempted, still without any evidence, to persuade the Department of Justice to declare there was fraud, state legislatures to reverse their certification of the result, and even instigated state Republicans to sign and submit documents fraudulently claiming to be the duly elected Electoral College electors for their state.
It is clear that the campaign of No. 45 to stay in power and undermine democracy and the election involved total commitment. Evidence suggests he even cheered on violent, riotous insurrectionists as they stormed the Capitol amid shouts of “Hang Mike Pence!” Now the Republican National Committee insanely declares January 6th ‘legitimate political discourse.’
Oregon and local Republicans are silent. Where do they stand? Are they for or against democracy? Apparently, authoritarianism wins.
Trisha Vigil
Medford
