Republicans are in a war against democracy. In late Oct. or Nov. 2019 Senators, including Sen. Ron Johnson, (R-WI.), were warned by the F.B.I., about a Russian disinformation campaign regarding Ukraine interference in U.S. elections and Hunter Biden-Burisma conspiracy theories. Again, in Dec. 2019 Senator Richard Burr, (R-NC.), Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, warned Sen. Johnson about his investigation being a conduit of Russian dis-information, (Just Security Aug. 11, 2020). He didn’t care and the Republican leadership took no action to stop his spreading Russian disinformation. U.S. intelligence agencies informed Republicans about Russian dis-information and still they took Russian propaganda over U.S. intelligence. Let that sink in for a few minutes.
After the 2020 Presidential election Republicans have spread the lie that there was massive fraud; without evidence. No evidence in 60 court cases or any evidence by fact finding organizations. Indeed, when Sidney Powell, Mr. Trump’s lawyer, was called into court to defend her claims of voter fraud, her defense was “no reasonable person would conclude that [Powell’s] statements were truly statements of fact.” In other words her statements of voter fraud were lies. The same for news outlets that spread lies. NPR’s David Folkenflik (12/23/20), reported “Over the weekend, Fox News, the Fox Business Network and Newsmax have run awkward segments rebutting false claims of widespread voter fraud — claims that have appeared on those networks earlier.” Those arrested after the Jan. 6th insurrection have cited these lies as defense for their actions. And indeed, Congressman Chris Jacobs cited these lies as reasons for voting against certifying the election, disenfranchising millions of voters. In their Editorial of 1/14/21 The Buffalo News wrote: “This is what is so dangerous about Jacobs’ excuse: He chose to feed the Big Lie.” The Buffalo News Editorial of 1/7/21 wrote: “So in addition to being chicken-hearted, Jacobs is also a liar.” And ended the Editorial: “On Wednesday, Jacobs did nothing to prevent evil. By siding with the seditionists, he encouraged it.”
It is this war on democracy that is spurring on the push to make voting harder for people of color and then passing laws preventing protest for this injustice. These lies have only one purpose: to question the sanction of our elections and undermine our democracy. Mr. Jacobs and Republicans are fighting against democracy.
