January 18, 2024
GOP Complicity
by Steve Cickay

The Republican Party is poised to nominate a person who recently said he would be a dictator on Day One of his second term, and who engaged in an insurrection that attacked the U.S. Capitol and the brave officers who risked their lives to defend it.

On January 6, 2021, this man attempted to defraud the American people and unlawfully remain in power. He has made false claims that the election was rigged ever since. He is also currently under 91 felony charges. Yet most Republican leaders, including U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, say and do nothing about someone who is an existential threat to our democracy, thereby giving tacit approval to his authoritarian excesses.

This would-be dictator promises to use the power and resources of the government for retribution against his political enemies, and to pardon the convicted perpetrators of the violence on Jan. 6 — yet most in the GOP either praise him or cower silently in fear of him and his MAGA supporters. A few brave Republicans like Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, and Chris Christie, who fully understand the danger this fascist-loving man poses to our democracy, thankfully speak out constantly against him. Silence is complicity with those who would take our prized possession — our democracy — away from us. It’s time to elect leaders who will love and defend our democracy, and who do not remain silent while it is about to go up in smoke.