Defeat democracy denialists
First published in the Wakefield Daily Item, November 7, 2022.
I feel bad for my sane Republican and conservative friends. I really do. They’re in a tough spot, forced to make an uncomfortable choice. Do they follow their party leaders in DC who have forfeited their integrity to follow the former president, a proven liar and demagogue, whose mounting legal troubles seem to be making him increasingly radical and erratic? Or do they split off from Trump, attempting to salvage their party by adhering to truth and the basics of democracy, putting the public welfare above winning partisan battles and the pursuit of power?
Since Trump has put a lie at the center of his drive for power and loyalty, this has become a kind of litmus test for Republicans: if you support Trump (and for Republican candidates, if you want the support of his base of supporters), you must buy into the lie that he won the 2020 presidential election.
Of course, Trump didn’t win. Joe Biden won, by a lot. (See: 60 unsuccessful lawsuits challenging the election; unanimous accounts from then secretaries of state, both Republican and Democrat, affirming that the election was fair and secure; sworn testimony from Trump advisors and administration associates confirming that Biden won and that Trump knew this; etc.)
If you now question Biden’s victory, it means one of two things: either you’ve been brainwashed into actually believing the lie by a steady repetition of it from Trump, Fox News, and other right wing propaganda channels; or, you know it’s a lie but winning and power are more important to you than truth.
I used to think the majority of election deniers were in the former group. Now I’m not so sure. I have a sneaking and growing suspicion that most reasonable Republicans know, deep down, that Biden won. This is actually much worse, making a substantial part of the electorate not merely duped election deniers but conscious democracy deniers.
Democracy and truth are more important than winning. And crucially, in a democracy, someone needs to lose and to accept defeat. If you believe your side must win or else the system is rigged, or the election is illegitimate – you’re an authoritarian.
Vote on Tuesday as if democracy depends on it. It does. And then, if your candidate loses fair and square, accept the results and try to work with your elected leaders to solve problems and make the country better.
© Jeff Kehoe