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Dear Editor;
SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER
Last Friday, the Republican National Committee (RNC) approved the censure of two republican members of the congressional committee examining the riot that occurred on the steps of the U. S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The RNC passed a resolution to censure Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for "participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse."  Yes, that correct. The leadership of the Republican Party has described the storming of the Capitol building, the theft and destruction of property, the violence against law enforcement officers and the call to hang the Vice President as legitimate. This is a dramatic turnaround from when the RNC condemned the "senseless acts of violence" in the immediate aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection.
It is sad - and beyond belief - that the once proud party of Abraham Lincoln is now banishing its own members because they are seeking the truth about what happened during one of the darkest days in our democracy. So, how does Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson respond to the action to silence his fellow lawmakers? Johnson was asked on Saturday if the RNC resolution description of the January 6th violence as "legitimate political discourse" was accurate. Johnson had an opportunity to speak the truth and denounce the violence that occurred that day. Instead, he dodged the question and refused to say if the censure or resolution language was proper. Johnson attempted to deflect the question by saying, "One of the things we talked about here is the basic bias of the media and asking questions, pushing issues that really most Americans don't care about, most Wisconsinites don't care about."
Sorry, Ron Johnson, but as you campaign for reelection this year you will be asked questions about the violent attempt to overthrown our government. Why? Because Wisconsin voters do care about the truth. Wisconsin voters do care about protecting our political institutions. Wisconsin voters do care about the laws upon which this country was founded. Wisconsin voters do care about the peaceful transition of power. And, yes, Wisconsin voters do care when the search for truth is obstructed and silenced.
So, Ron Johnson, the next time you are asked if the destruction and violence that occurred on January 6th is "legitimate" say no and condemn such actions. If you don't then I would agree with the editorial board of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that has called you "unfit" for office and says you are "the most irresponsible representative of Wisconsin citizens since the infamous Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy in the 1950s."
Carolyn L. Smith,
Ridgeway, WI