Letter: State lawmakers need to stand up for the truth

To the editor:

We are living in a time of heightened division when truth-telling is more important than ever. Our elected officials need to tell their constituents the truth about who won the election and demonstrate what mature leadership looks like rather than cowering and remaining complicit through their silence. Neither Don DeWitte nor Dan Ugaste have spoken out as representatives of the Republican party and the leaders closest to their constituents who have the power to shape local rhetoric around our national divide, and yet they both refuse to muster the courage for the moment.

Instead, both DeWitte and Ugaste continue to feed the fear and hatred of the far-right by sending out emails with subject lines like “Defund the Police bill rushed by Democrats” and posting wishy-washy statements on their social media, claiming to be appalled by the insurrectionist’s behavior while not taking ownership of their party’s responsibility or calling on their voters to honor the results of a free and fair election.

We must work together to move forward, but that cannot be done without consequences for those who have sought to upend our democracy. We cannot turn a blind eye and pretend that those who stoked the fires had nothing to do with the mob attack on our capitol. It was good to see Rep. Adam Kinzinger stand for the truth at this time and vote for impeachment; and while we know that the FBI has cautioned of continued threats to the capitols in every state, we should expect our state Republican elected officials to speak up as well. They are the ones that these domestic terrorists need to hear condemning the continued lies about our election. They must find the courage to speak the truth, and if they cannot,they should be held accountable for their complicity.

Martha Paschke

Geneva