No legitimate question about the validity of the 2020 election ever existed. There are far too many safeguards in place for the kind of "massive voter fraud" claimed by Trump to have happened, and there is absolutely not a shred of evidence to prove it did. It's a danger to our representative democracy, to our elected officials and to everything that makes America what it is to allow those who continue to push this lie to have anything to do with government at any level. This isn't protected free speech, it's an attempt to subvert representative government.
The possibility that this is an attempt by a foreign power, or more than one foreign power, to interfere in this country in order to enhance their own power and influence is not only highly likely, but there is evidence, plenty of it, that it actually happened in 2016. The Mueller Report is still in print. It should be required reading for any government official, from school boards and city councils all the way up to the Presidential administration. And every patriotic American should read every word of it. Every. Single. Word.
The first question that any candidate for office should be asked at any campaign event, town hall or open forum is, "Do you believe the results of the 2020 election are completely accurate and that President Biden was legitimately elected President of the United States?' If their answer is no, walk out while loudly declaring that they will not get your vote.
Last November, during our city council election, I attended a mayoral candidate's forum at which about two dozen people showed up. After their initial remarks, the floor was opened for questions and I asked, "Do you believe Joe Biden was legitimately elected President of the United States?" One of the candidates commented that he didn't really see how that question fit into the city council issues. The incumbent mayor said, "Absolutely, he was, and you can trust the results of this election just like you can trust the results of the Presidential election." He got a standing ovation, he got my vote and he won re-election overwhelmingly. I wasn't aware of his political affiliation but found out he was a Democrat after the election was over.
We have to be bold in confronting "the big lie" in every forum where it is appropriate to do so, especially where candidates are running for office. No one should be elected to office who believes there was "massive voter fraud" in 2020. How can they trust the results of the election in which they are running? That gives the opposition the opportunity to question the legitimacy of anyone who holds office, undermining the effectiveness of any office holder.
Limits to Free Speech
It is legally and constitutionally possible to defend against subversive or threatening speech. There are lines which are defined that can't be crossed when public statements are made. The proverbial example, that you can't yell "fire" in a crowded theater, gives some context as to exactly what can be done in situations like this. Claiming that the election results are fraudulent, without any evidence at all to prove it, meets that threshold, in my humble opinion.
We are way past the point when something should be done about the big lie. Elected officials should be bombarded by phone calls and emails from constituents who keep it right in front of them and make them at least give some thought as to the possible consequences. And if some statements can be labelled as "hate speech," some statements should also be labelled, at the very least, "subversive and anti-American," if not treasonous. The constitution leaves it up to the courts to determine whether certain actions are illegal or unconstitutional, so some of these politicians who make these ridiculous claims should be sued and have to face the courts.
During the next year, members of Congress, and a third of the Senate, are facing re-election. They have to campaign. At every opportunity, their opponents should be forcing them to go on the record and support for the January 6th insurrectionist and buying into the big lie should be a prominent part of their political record. I believe those will be the two biggest negative issues of the 2022 midterm campaign and at the present time, are big vote-getters for Democrats, especially among Independents. But there are even some disaffected Republicans who can be enticed to cast ballots for Democrats out of their revulsion for this anti-American subversion.
No patriotic American who believes in this country's ideals, in its representative Democracy and who cherishes their constitutionally-guaranteed, fought-for liberty, believes that the 2020 election was stolen, nor do they consider anyone involved with January 6th a loyal American.
Anyone who calls for violence if they are indicted should be arrested immediately for treason.
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