Brunswick Beacon, 01.04.24
After Colorado's Supreme Court disqualified Donald Trump pursuant to Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, our Republican Sen. Thom Tillis promised to introduce legislation to eliminate federal funding for states that disqualify presidential candidates from the ballot.
Employing logic and admirable brevity, Aaron Fritschner, deputy chief of staff for Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), called Tillis' bill "an idiotic response" to the decision: "If the Supreme Court overturns Colorado this will be unnecessary, if they uphold it will be unconstitutional."
Tillis’ explanation for his bill also misrepresented the background of the Colorado case by falsely claiming it was brought by “left-wing activists.” In fact, it was filed by two Independents and four Republicans, including Krista Kafer, who explained why. "I've been a Republican for 30 years. He tried to disenfranchise millions of Americans that I disagree with on the issues, but they’re my fellow Americans. If a Democrat did what Trump did, wouldn’t I expect others to step forward on my behalf?”
Displaying a curiously short memory, Tillis claimed that “voters should decide who we elect as president.” Has Tillis forgotten what happened the last time voters did that? Trump, aided and abetted by 147 Republicans, refused to accept the will of the voters, launched his insurrection, and ended our history of peacefully transferring power.
There is no doubt that Trump caused the insurrection. We saw him do it on live TV. That’s why seven Republican senators joined 50 Democrats and voted to convict Trump. As our former Republican Senator Richard Burr explained, "The evidence is compelling that President Trump is guilty of inciting an insurrection against a coequal branch of government and that the charge rises to the level of high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
Abe Lincoln said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” Regrettably, Tillis didn’t take Abe’s advice.
Michael Maisel
Sunset Beach