By Tom Burke / Herald columnist
My last column detailed some of the lies, fabrications, and conspiracy theories Republicans are using to stir the base and win votes in ‘22.
But I heard, “So….? Those lies don’t really affect me.”
Actually, they do; but let’s look instead not at what the fabulists, fantasists and liars say; but what Republicans actually do; and what their candidates say they’ll do if they win at the local, state, and federal levels.
We’ll start with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s legislative plans for the Senate.
No, actually, we won’t; because when asked about Republicans’ midterm agenda, the Kentucky Republican responded with a sarcastic, “That is a very good question; and I’ll let you know when we take it (the Senate) back.” Which is to say, “Trust me.” (Right!)
But other Republicans, such as Florida’s Sen. Rick Scott, have been more forthcoming about their plans, announcing they would:
• Impose income taxes on more than half of Americans who now pay none.
• Sunset all legislation after five years, including Social Security and Medicare.
• Finish building the wall and name it after Donald Trump.
• Close the federal Department of Education.
• Immediately cut the IRS funding and workforce by 50 percent.
• Cut retirement benefits for younger Americans.
• Prohibit all unmonitored ballot boxes.
But wait, there’s more.
As copy-cat bills expand Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” and Texas’ abortion laws, it means Republicans, believing your 12-year old is too young to talk about their bodies and selves, are anxious to force her to give birth from a pregnancy as a result of rape. (And in Missouri a bill to outlaw marriages to a child under 14 had 48 Republicans voting against it.) While in Oklahoma a new, near total ban on abortion makes performing one a felony punishable by up to 10 years in state prison, a $100,000 fine, or both. (The legislation would not provide exceptions in cases of rape and incest.) Similar laws have been passed in Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee and Utah.
Now if you are diabetic your condition will continue hurting your wallet as well as your body, as 193 Republicans voted against a bill to cap insulin prices at $35 a month and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., said diabetes sufferers who use the life-saving medicine should “just lose weight.” So get used to paying a whole lot for your meds if the Rs win, as they’ll do nothing to lower your costs.
And some in the GOP want to use government to cancel Mickey Mouse, punishing Disney because it took a political side. Which probably means Republican retribution on all companies who don’t support the MAGA party line, just like a leading conservative pundit threatened:“Everything will be on the table, your copyright/trademark protection, your special status in certain states, and even your corporate structure itself.”
The national GOP “Plan for America” states heterosexual marriage is “God’s design for humanity” (attacking single parents and same-sex partners simultaneously); in Michigan all three GOP candidates for attorney general affirmed support for a state’s “right” to criminalize access to birth control; Ohio senate GOP-primary front-runner Josh Mandel has been declaring that the separation of church and state is a “myth” (making white, right-wing evangelical Christian nationalists very happy, not so much Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, agnostic, et al voters); and right-wing populist book banning has become a staple of R candidates nationwide and at all levels of government.
In are own Washington state, failed candidate for governnor Loren Culp, now a GOP congressional candidate (having lost to Inslee by 545,000 votes), recently, publicly, and in writing, advocated lynching (let me say that again, lynching!) judges, prosecutors, and an accused criminal saying, “Get a Rope! Not only for the low life scumbag who did this (committed an assault) but for the worthless judges and prosecutors who continually let this happen by turning violent criminals back out only to make new victims.” He then added, “No rope, firing squad and I’ll volunteer for it.”)
“But hey,” you say, “My R candidate isn’t loading his rifle, tying a noose, or calling all Dems pedophiles or communists.” Maybe.
But the concern extends beyond individual candidates contravening the Constitution or calling for necktie parties. The concern is, if your Republican candidate (local, state, or federal) doesn’t forcibly repudiate these positions, they are aiding and abetting those advocating for them.
Because you know they’ll follow the party line no matter how extreme: voting with the pro-Putin wing of the Republican party; voting to increase taxes on the poor and middle class; and voting to kill Social Security and the Affordable Care Act. They’ll facilitate passing bills that transform our democracy into a theocracy, burn books, restrict voter rights, and make winning their culture wars (based on race and hatred of people different from them) paramount, instead of addressing the real issues confronting this country.
To quote Simon Wiesenthal, “For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing.”
Tom Burke’s email address is t.burke.column@gmail.com.
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