An election is coming

Shannon Bohrer

(11/2022) A little retrospective is necessary in understanding the importance and consequences of our next election.

On September 11, 2001, we were unexpectedly attacked by foreign adversaries and after those events we as a nation came together to fight the perpetrators. When a nation is attacked, the normal reaction is the expression of unity, with the common goal of defending the nation.

Fast forward to January 6, 2021, our capital was attacked, not by foreign terrorist, but by American citizens. After that attack, instead of coming together to defend our country, we had citizens and elected officials defending the attackers. That event occurred almost two years ago, and the divisiveness - has only grown.

When our capital was violently attacked officers were injured. Many have permanent disabilities. People died and property was destroyed and yet many politicians excused the insurrectionists, and the excuses continue.

We have heard descriptions of those that attacked us - as patriots "expressing their first amendment rights." Senator Ron Johnson said, "It was a peaceful protest…" He blamed any violence on ANTIFA, which was not present. Representative Andrew Clyde said that "Watching the TV footage of those who entered the Capital and walked through Statuary Hall showed people in an orderly fashion…if you didn’t know the footage was a video from January 6th, you would actually think it was a normal tourist visit."

The Republican National Committee (RNC) censured Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, basically for being honest. A unanimous approved resolution said they "were engaged in the persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in ‘Legitimate political discourse’…" "After the vote, party leaders rushed to clarify that language, saying it was never meant to apply to rioters who violently stormed the Capitol in Mr. Trump’s name." Does that make sense to anyone?

January 6th was an attempt to overthrow a legitimate election. After the insurrection there were multiple party members, justifying the event, which is just incomprehensible. When was the last time a normal tourist visits at the US Capital resulted in 140 police officers being injured. One office lost an eye, many have retired on disability, and several have taken their own lives. The injuries, deaths and damages to the buildings refutes the numerous lies being told in a feeble and perverted attempt to justify what occurred. Democracy is fragile and when lies we are being told, and they are believed, we move in the direction of autocracy.

Almost two years later, we have political candidates running for office still touting the "insurrection" as a justified event. Many even still believe that President Biden, is not legitimate because they say, "the election was stolen." It was not.

In Maryland we have Dan CQX, a candidate for governor, who still holds the beliefs that Trump is the real president. He sent busses to Washington DC, on January 6th, tweeting "I am co-hosting two buses to the Million MAGA March/Rally with the Frederick County Conservative Club in support of President Trump @realDonaldTrump on January 6, 2021, to #stopthesteal." During the insurrection there were chants from rioters, saying Hang Mike Pence." Responding to the chants, Dan CQX tweeted "Pence is a traitor."

The last election was not stolen, the results were confirmed by over sixty courts. In all of those cases, not one piece of evidence was put forth showing fraud. Yet we still have election deniers, including Dan CQX. This election is about our democracy, because many people running for office still believes the last election was stolen, with no evidence. They also believe our legitimate government should be overthrown.

Candidate Dan CQX in not the only person running on lies. Neil Parrott, running for congress is also an election denier. He defended the capital rioters, saying, "The vast majority … were simply there to support fair elections." He said he has "admirable friends that attacked the Capital on January 6th." He also agrees with the Supreme Court decision on abortion, with no exceptions, not even to save the life of the mother. Neil Parrot says he is worried about terrorist at our southern border, and he says he supports the police. If he really worries about terrorist, why not call out the insurrections, who are domestic terrorist that wanted to overthrow our government. Saying you support the police, while supporting the insurrections that attacked the police, does not compute.

Another election denier is Michael Hough, running for County Executive. Michael certainly has conservative credentials, working for U.S, Congressman Alex Mooney of West Virginia. Mooney was backed by former President Trump in his last election. However, Hough is trying to run to the center, but his past still exist. It is very telling that Michael Hough was Trump’s re-election campaign manager for Frederick County. He even promoted "Trump’s MAGA Birthday Bash," on his Facebook page.

Politicians and others that supported Trump are not the issue. The issue is those that have never refuted the big lie that the election was stolen, and they should not hold office. Why should anyone that supported the attempted coup, be elected? I am not anti-republican, but when leaders and elected officials cannot call out the participants in the insurrection, it is both distressing and worrisome. Even more perturbing is when some elected officials refer to the insurrections as political prisoners.

In early September, Congressman Gohmert from Texas, met Dr. Simon Gold when she was released from Federal Prison. She has been incarcerated for her participation in the insurrection on January 6th. He presented her with a flag, which had flown over the capital. Gohmert said she was a "a political prisoner." Gohmert and other Trump supporters often refer to those arrested after the insurrection as political prisoners. That behavior reflects fascism.

Abraham Lincoln’s words about our demise seem appropriate, "From whence shall we expect the approach of danger? Shall some trans-Atlantic military giant step the earth and crush us at a blow? Never. All the armies of Europe and Asia...could not by force take a drink from the Ohio River or make a track on the Blue Ridge in the trial of a thousand years. No, if destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men we will live forever or die by suicide."

After September 11, 2001, we came together to fight our enemies. Since January 6th, the largest threat to our democracy is the insurrectionist and those that support them. That includes leaders and politicians that have been silent. Silence implies approval. Voting for the election deniers, including those that have been silent, is a vote against democracy. Vote for the truth.