Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer
Representative Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) is the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney. She is also the House Republican Conference Chair, third highest-ranking House Republican in the House of Representatives. Representative Cheney wants her fellow Republicans to stop lying about the 2020 Presidential election.
On Monday, May 3, 2021, she wrote “The 2020 presidential election was not stolen. Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system.”
Cheney and the majority of Americans know this Big Lie incited the assault on the January 6 at the United States Capitol. Rioters wanted to stop a Constitutional process. The Constitution requires Congress to count the votes submitted the 50 state governments.
Each state has the right under the constitution to conduct its election and count their own votes. Every state did and reported their votes to Congress. Congress was in the process of counting the votes when rioters attacked Capitol Police and broke down doors to get inside.
The rioters killed four and injured 138 police officers. The lies about the 2020 election fueled this attack on our democracy.
On April 30, 2021, Newsmax admitted it spread false information about the election. Facing a defamation lawsuit, Newsmax retracted and apologized for its false reporting.
“Newsmax would like to clarify its coverage of Dr. Coomer and note that while Newsmax initially covered claims by President Trump’s lawyers, supporters and others that Dr. Coomer played a role in manipulating Dominion voting machines, Dominion voting software, and the final vote counts in the 2020 presidential election, Newsmax subsequently found no evidence that such allegations were true. Many of the states whose results were contested by the Trump campaign after the November 2020 election have conducted extensive recounts and audits, and each of these states certified the results as legal and final.”
These are the facts. It is unconscionable for a political party to continue its attacks on our democracy. Representative Cheney is trying to lead her party to the truth. The truth is the first step to healing from the attack.
Unfortunately, too many Republicans have invested in the lie. Both Republican politicians and voters have refused to accept the will of the people.
Because of her defense of our democracy against lies, Republicans want to remove her from her leadership role. Republicans have abandoned allegiance to the Republic for allegiance to a man. Do we really have to wait for another Oklahoma City bombing for Republicans to defend America? better. Let’s end the politics of spite.
Glenn Melancon is a professor of history at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He can be reached at glenn@glennmelancon.com. His opinions are his own and do not reflect those of the Jefferson Jimplecute.