Commentary: Right-wing extremists threaten uncivil war on democracy
One year ago, Jan. 6, 2021, far-right supporters of President Donald Trump tried to overturn a fair election and overthrow the U.S. government. Exhorted by Trump and others, who spouted the big lie that widespread voter fraud cost Trump the 2020 election, the mob invaded the U. S. Capitol, doing millions of dollars in damage, injuring 140 police officers, and threatening the lives of members of Congress and Vice President Mike Pence.
The rioters sought to stop the formal counting of the already-certified state electoral votes so that Trump somehow could retain the presidency. As we are learning from a U. S. House committee investigating the attack, the effort was well-coordinated by radical and white supremacist groups working in lock-step with Trump advisers and possibly members of Congress. Trump legal advisors had dreamed up legally dubious scenarios to enable Trump to circumvent the Constitution and keep control of government. It got perilously close to succeeding.
Law enforcement, military and other experts have warned that the simmering mob is still out there, fed by years of hate speech, conspiracy theories, disinformation, and bald-faced lies. Several polls in 2021 showed that most Republicans continue to believe the lie that Trump lost the election due to voter fraud. A survey this fall by the Public Religion Research Institute found that 30% of Republicans believe patriots may have to resort to violence “to save the country.” The number jumps to 40% for those who most trust far-right news outlets.
While they falsely accuse Democrats of being socialists or communists, far-right extremists appear to be OK with turning the U.S. into an authoritarian state by attacking the free press, stifling peaceful protests, making it harder for people of color to vote, and manipulating political districts to make it nearly impossible for opponents to win elections.
Also, the GOP can call itself the law and order party, but many members sure don’t demonstrate it. Republicans sat silent, for example, while Trump trampled legal norms and the rule of law numerous times as president, including politicizing the Justice Department, deriding judges who ruled against him, and tying security funds for Ukraine to a political favor to help him win reelection. Meanwhile, Trump advisers who may have been involved in planning the Jan. 6 rally and protests have ignored House subpoenas and failed to testify and produce documents to investigators. Republican fake patriots still sit silent.
The Jan. 6 video of a man traipsing through the Capitol with a Confederate battle flag should have been especially disturbing to any real patriot. One of my first thoughts was how upset my grandfather would have been if he were alive to see that. Grandpap was a history buff, especially the Civil War. He was a genuine patriot, not one of those fakers who quote the Constitution when it is convenient, while saying the Jan. 6 riot was no big deal, or worse, that it was justified.
Grandpap was proud that his father served in the Union Army against the Confederates, who wanted to replace the United States of America with an authoritarian government controlled by wealthy land and slave owners. He was proud to have served in the military, and proud of his two sons who fought the Nazis in World War II, and two grandsons who served during Vietnam.
One day in the 1950s when Grandpap was regaling us with Civil War stories, I asked if a civil war could happen again. If citizens allow evil people to gain power, it can happen anywhere, even in the United States, he answered. As usual, Grandpap was right. Another uncivil war could begin next month or the next election. It almost happened last Jan. 6.
McCann is a contributing columnist for the Advertiser. He is a retired journalist and may be reached at Easywriter12345@yahoo.com.
