Readers respond to last week’s Feedback Friday topic, which was:
Gubernatorial Candidates That Supported Jan. 6th Events
Last week, a gubernatorial candidate in Michigan was arrested on charges for his participation in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Reports the Washington Post:
“Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan D. Kelley was arrested Thursday on misdemeanor charges of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, including a count of damaging federal property, the Justice Department announced.
“A contender in the state’s crowded Aug. 2 primary, Kelley, 40, of Allendale, Mich., faces four counts punishable by up to a year in prison, including trespassing, disorderly conduct, committing an act of violence against a person or property on restricted grounds, and depredation of federal property, according to charging papers. His home in Allendale was searched by the FBI on Thursday morning.”
With the Maryland Gubernatorial Primary Election set to take place just over one month from now, we’ve been curious if any of the candidates on the Maryland primary ballot had supported the events leading up the Capitol riot.
Maryland Del. Daniel L. Cox, a candidate running in the Republican primary for Governor, attended Donald Trump’s rally on the national mall the afternoon of the Capitol riot. He also bussed supporters into Washington, D.C., to attend the event. Days ahead of the Trump rally, he announced on Twitter:
“I am co-hosting two buses to the Million MAGA March/Rally with the Frederick County Conservative Club in support of President Trump @realDonaldTrump on January 6, 2021 to #StoptheSteal”
To be clear, this type of support is not a crime. Nor is a Tweet that Cox posted the Wednesday afternoon of the riots at approximately 3:21 p.m. that stated: “Pence is a traitor.” For the record, a couple days after the Capitol riot, Cox did publicly denounce the violence.
Nor is it a crime to repeatedly Tweet the conspiracy group QAnon hashtag #WWG1WGA. When asked about his use of the hashtag, Cox’s response was, “I support President Trump and General Flynn and that’s all my point was about.”
It’s also very much within his legal rights to state he believes there was substantial voter fraud in Maryland during the November 2020 election. For the record, Trump lost Maryland by 33 points.
None of this is criminal, especially in comparison to the charges Ryan D. Kelley faces.
But all of this does speak to one’s character and beliefs.
Candidates on state and national ballots who supported the events and actions that led to the January 6th Capitol riot or sympathized with any other violent riot regardless of origin and nature, nor demonstrate faith in the foundational judicial systems and electoral processes upon which our great country is built, are not fit to serve our state or nation in my opinion.
What do you think? Agree or not? Do you prefer candidates that challenge the status quo in this manner?
Here’s what you said:
I will not vote for any candidate of either party who in any way supported the activities of Jan. 6, or who in any way refused to acknowledge President Biden's victory. Specifically I will vote against "Dr." Andy Harris in both the primary, and if he wins that, in the general election.
Al DiCenso, Easton
January 6 was a horrifying event to me and as I watched it unfold I could not believe this was happening in America. That some people have tried to turn this into a reasonable protest frightens me and ,even more so, that a candidate such as Cox and the beliefs he professes might be elected as a Maryland representative both frightens and disgusts me. I have faith Maryland voters will turn him away.
Barbara Zelley, Annapolis
Haha. This is all you've got.
In a FREE and FAIR election (read: no Democrat/RINO cheating w/ ballot harvesting & mules + Voting Machines hooked up to the internet), Cox will wipe the floor with you guys.
Eileen Hoyland, Annapolis
As a patriot who loves this country I am glad to see a politician stay true to his believes and not the party. I think every American had the right to attend the rally on Jan.6th if they felt that the election was stolen. I know I found it hard to believe that Joe Biden beat President Trump. I can't recall any President that had so many car and boat parades put together by the average American. So, again if Dan Cox felt he needed to attend this rally as millions of patriots did then I support him.
Lynne Sherlock, Annapolis
I'm sitting waiting for vehicle repair, on the radio someone talking about what a waste of time the hearings are taking. The left focusing only on the past.... How can any American view the event televised last evening and NOT be appalled and deeply concerned for our future? Radio host is blasting out, joblessness, economy, gas prices etc. Loose the electoral process he says.... Not one concern about the politicians involved, Former Presidents actions, facts/videos presented or the interviews in process!! My biggest concern and outright rage is why, why is this a waste of time for the American people or ANY politician right or left? Agree every one of us can believe and support differing views or political parties. If the candidate supported the Former President then fine. BUT to spread or support what seems to be a clear abuse of power and lies....that is a scary, slippery slope. My belief in ANY politician at this point is suspect and that will affect the future at the polls. So, dishonesty wins.....they win. This seems like it will take years to recover faith and truth to those politicians whom are really civil servants for the people, right or left.
David Crider, Crownsville
It's very simple. It's about the law. Either you support the Constitution, or you do not. Laws in this country are based on the Constitution. If you don't like a certain law, then there are legal avenues to try to have it changed. You cannot ignore the law simply because you don't like it. There are those who try to evade a lawful subpoena, for example, because they have done wrong and don't want to be punished. Ignoring a subpoena just makes it more clear where your priorities lie.
If this country is to have true equality, then all people must be held accountable to the same set of rules. It's just like the Ten Commandments. If only some people were to be held to that standard, then it would be the 'Ten Suggestions.' It's an all or nothing proposition.
As a proud veteran, I can say that my brother and I swore an oath to the Constitution, not Ronald Reagan, who was president at the time of our commissioning. My father, who volunteered for WWII, did not swear an oath to Roosevelt when he was commissioned. It doesn't matter who you support politically, as long as you follow the law. I fail to understand how anyone can 'back the blue,' and then go break the law. Even committing misdemeanors is a statement that one doesn't show the law proper respect. The obvious question would then remain for those January 6th insurrectionists now running for public office, 'If you deliberately break the law to show that you do not respect it, then do you expect everyone else to abide by the laws that you help enact?' The answer is elementary if you can separate the politics from the rule of law. Sadly, too many today run for office to serve themselves instead of the common good, and it shows. Hypocrisy is never attractive, especially among lawmakers. We should hold lawmakers to a higher standard, not a lower one. If someone cannot abide by the laws we have now, then they have no business creating any more.
Betsy Malkus, Cambridge
I think with all the unethical illegal things trump did his packing the one sided court has cost us any respect for the court. It is a disgrace. Looking at Judge Thomas, his wife, the way kavanaugh & Barrett were put in, It's disgraceful & wrong & we are seeing the consequences. If Trump comes back we could end up an autocracy. He's tried. He's faced no consequences. We are going backwards, women have lost long standing rights, guns will be easier to kill with after the supreme court decisions. Voting rights are being taken away by republicans.Those judges are political & there are so many examples of trumps unethical, should be illegal, behaviors like firing anyone that doesn't agree with him only hiring those that do his bidding, even the unqualified, including the courts & trying for the DOJ head . Luckily some people did the right thing too late but did it. In reality judges shouldn't be political but the supreme court is & does not represent the US. It's one sided & wrong. All respect (which I had much for them), is now gone. This is a biased, rigged court ,making ruling based on history when things like AR-15's didn't exist. Our democracy is ending. I'm glad I've lived most of my life. I'm embarrassed of the hate filled, politically biased environment brought out & accepted with the trump WH. Be careful sadly before you know it we could be an autocracy. I never thought I'd see this in the world I grew up in. We are heading backwards fast.
Lauren Long, Annapolis
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