Editorial held GOP accountable
A job well done to the Editorial Board of the Journal Sentinel for their excellent front-page editorial that pointed out the failure of the Republican Party to defend our democracy (“State GOP fails in duty to defend democracy,” Dec. 23).
This was journalism at its best, for exposing the hypocrisy of Republicans, especially within our state, for their embarrassing behavior over the last several years. Seldom do we see newspapers call a “spade a spade” like this editorial did. It is not that easy during these troubling times to speak out so forcefully without fear of some type of retribution. Yet, journalists, newspapers and the media have a solemn duty to keep us informed and hold politicians and others in positions of authority accountable for their actions.
This editorial is all the more reason to be thankful for the benefits of a free press. Politicians should not be allowed to lie and tell falsehoods without consequences. President Trump and his lapdog followers have been exposed repeatedly for a style of governing that willfully attempts to deceive the American people for their personal benefit.
His strategy is to frequently attack the media with accusations of fake news only to apply this tactic himself as a means of spinning news events in his favor. Thank God literally for newspapers like the Journal Sentinel for telling it like it is and in doing so, helping to preserve this unique experiment in democracy, called the United States of America.
This election was proof again of what makes this country special. Our courts and a lot of public officials overseeing the presidential election stood up to incredible amounts of intimidation, pressure and even threats on some of these individual’s lives, to perform their civic duties in an admirable way. What a blessing for us to have people with such integrity and courage uphold our basic institutions that help us function as a democracy. Many of these officials were conservatives and Republicans who placed their country above their party in executing their duties.
Even so, the struggle to move past the election and forward as a nation remains difficult. All the more reason to encourage citizens to exercise their constitutional rights and speak out responsibly when corruption, hypocrisy and outright criminal behavior in our politics is evident. At the same time, appreciate our journalists and others in the media when they are doing their jobs to keep our democracy healthy and alive.
Ken Berg Watertown