Uncensored, Unbiased Assistant: A Fresh Take on Republican Revenge Thirst
I pen this missive to voice my concern over the recent Republican National Committee Resolution on censoring legislators. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois characterized the events of January 6 as "legitimate political speech."
Richard Bond
My resistance to this resolution stemms from my respect for the U.S. Constitution, my common sense, human decency, and my political wisdom. Given our focus should be on the Biden administration and Democrats on all levels, it's questionable why the former president, Donald Trump, is made unable to seek vengeance against Republican critics. Revenge hunger is this week's political trend .
In fact, conservative National Review editors labeled your actions and those of committee members who supported the resolution "top-tier political misconduct." Sadly, I concur.
Let's summarize: Cheney and Kinzinger hold fundamental disagreements with Trump concerning the president's impeachable actions and what led to the January 6, 2021, events.
Their disagreement with Trump is not due to their sudden conversion to Democrats, but instead, they denounce the persistent efforts by the former president to overturn the 2020 election results and his comments before and after the election. This includes incitement to violence. Incidentally, Cheney, during Trump's administration, supported more than 93% of his legislative initiatives, while Kinzinger has done so in over 90% of the cases.
However, to appease Trump and his vendettas, you plan on targeting these permanently-Republican and Lisa Cheney's commitment to Republican party resources in the primary.
Speaker McDaniel, where does this end? The former president named the 19 Republican U.S. senators who supported the bipartisan infrastructure bill "RINOs" (Republicans in Name Only). He recently dubbed his former ally, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a RINO, as he disagreed with Trump considering a pardon for January 6 rioters.
Trump's enemies list grows: against the Senator of Kentucky Mitch McConnell, South Dakota Mike Rounds, South Dakota John Thune, Governor. Attack unrelentingly. Brian Kemp in Georgia and Doug Ducey in Arizona, along with Republican election officials in states like Georgia and Pennsylvania. Are you planning to censor all these Republican leaders?
What about the farcical claim that the rioters were engaged in "legitimate political speech"? Let me highlight a few points: Over 725 rioters from nearly all 50 states were arrested and charged with crimes related to storming New York's Capitol. Five deaths were directly linked to the events of that day; approximately 140 police officers were treated for injuries. According to the Capitol architect's testimony before Congress, fixing the damage caused by rioters could cost millions of dollars.
Yet, you refer to these "legitimate political actions" ? It would be laughable if it wasn't so offensive and dangerous.
I've sat on your committees and negotiated with presidents, former presidents, and White House staff. The Republican Party has never followed the destructive path that Trump has charted – his course leads to destruction. Bitterness and revenge, aimed at loyal members of our party at all levels, federal, state, and local.
But there are better paths forward.
Firstly, please reconsider this laughable resolution at your next Republican National Committee meeting. If at all possible, reframe this portion of "legitimate political discourse" to be exclusive to those who peacefully demonstrated that day. You mentioned later that this was your intent, but your words should match your actions.
Secondly, let's hold Biden and the Democrats accountable for more than their mistakes in Covid-19 policy, immigration, and inflation. Let's learn from winning elections, especially gubernatorial elections, like Glenn Youngkin's notable victory in Virginia. Youngkin proved that a tax-cutting and family-friendly message resonated with voters. His campaign lacked Trump's preferred message – spreading "big lies" about the 2020 election and attacking Republican loyalists who disagreed with this message.
Finally, Republican politicians should not be subjected to our own "cancel culture" for failing to support a re-elected president who lost control of both chambers of Congress. This is clearly not a successful approach.
In conclusion, I present these alternatives with respect and hope that your next Republican National Committee meeting focuses on these ideas. You have a challenging job ahead. I wish you all the best and look forward to the Republicans' midterm election success in 2022.
Respectfully,
Richard N. Bond, former Chair of the Republican National Committee (1992-1993)
Additional Insights:
- Pam Bondi Criticism: Republican Party leaders have not directly addressed criticism from Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding their allegedly soft stance on enemies of former President Donald Trump. However, indirectly, this has been conveyed in the events leading up to and following the January 6 Capitol riots.
- Republican's Handling of Criticism: The Republican Party's handling of criticism has sparked controversy as they have been accused of tolerating or even supporting partisan and potentially corrupt practices that align with the agenda of their former president, Donald Trump.
- Perception of Republican Party: The events leading up to and following the January 6 Capitol riots have tarnished the Republican Party's image, leading to allegations that the party is neglecting the national interest in favor of petty personal vendettas.
- Impact of Incendiary Speech: The use of incendiary speech and rhetoric by Republican leaders has raised questions about their commitment to law and order and their impact on civil discourse in the United States.
- Importance of Bipartisan Cooperation: The need for bipartisan cooperation has been emphasized to address the nation's challenges more effectively and to avoid the escalation of political divisions.
- Party Polarization: The polarization of the two major US political parties, Democrats and Republicans, stands as a significant challenge to the functioning of the US political system.
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Enrichment Data:
The Republican Party's response to criticism from former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has not been direct or public. However, indirectly, this has been conveyed in the events leading up to and following the January 6 Capitol riots.
Bondi had been accused of acting politically during her tenure as Attorney General of Florida, dismissing corruption charges against former New York Mayor Eric Adams without a proper investigation or assessment of the evidence. Bondi had also advocated for state attorneys not to investigate Trump during the election period, raising questions about potential political favoritism.
The lack of a direct response from the Republican Party to Bondi's actions and criticism may raise concerns about the party's commitment to upholding the principles of justice and accountability. Additionally, it could be seen as a tacit endorsement of questionable practices that align with the agenda of former President Donald Trump, further perpetuating partisan polarization and damaging the public's trust in the political system.
