Our nation’s Capitol was violently attacked on Jan. 6. The mob, fueled by lies of a stolen election by President Donald Trump and his allies, was neither rational nor kind. The damage to those who lost their lives and to the building was extensive, indefensible. The damage to our democracy is massive and ongoing.
Our Rep. Pete Stauber is disturbed. He is furrowing his brow and condemning the violence. But he does not seem to want to look at the root of the violence. Why? Perhaps because he was part of it. He isn’t interested in taking a stand against Trump, who fomented, lie by lie, the anger and righteousness that fueled the mob. Stauber wasn’t one of the few Republicans who chose country over party by voting to impeach. He doesn’t seem to want to rock the boat, saying he’s afraid it would divide us further. The boat is already thoroughly rocked, if he didn’t notice.
If what Trump did isn’t worthy of impeachment, what is in the mind of Stauber? It appears he’d prefer to pretend this did not happen and sanctimoniously call for healing. He said, “I think it is time we all tone down our rhetoric and understand that first and foremost we’re Americans.” We cannot begin to heal if those involved won’t stand firmly against this great wrong to our country.
Stauber added his own sticks to the conflagration that became a riot. He used the gravitas of his position to add his name to the bogus Texas lawsuit that attempted to overturn the election. He has yet to utter the words, “Just as I was duly elected to serve a second term, President-elect Biden was fairly and freely elected to serve as our 46th president.” If he cannot, he is not serious about healing.
Lynn MacLean
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Duluth
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