By Rich Cassady, Esq., Guest Columnist
On Sept. 1, 2022, President Joe Biden declared MAGA Donald Trump supporters, estimated at 60-75 million Americans, to be threats to democracy and implied we are domestic terrorists. It was an invitation to violence against those Americans with different political views than he and his party hold.
That call for violence was echoed by U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) later when she issued her literal “call to arms” against all Americans who describe themselves as pro-life.
Last week U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), who is the Democrat U.S. Senate candidate, insisted that his party must “kill and confront” MAGA Trump supporters.
On Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in North Dakota, it happened. A man named Shannon Brandt ran down and killed an 18-year-old MAGA Trump supporter and admitted that such was his motivation for murder.
I have not read it reported that any Democrat, from Gov. Roy Cooper, Attorney General Josh Stein, U.S. Senate candidate Cheryl Beasley, U.S. congressional candidate Jasmine Beach-Farrara or any other down-ballot Democrat has openly disavowed or even expressed disagreement with Biden’s toxic speech or those of the others mentioned above. If, as expected, a “red-wave” sweeps the GOP, and more specifically MAGA Trump supporters into office, will the ruling party permit it?
Remember, the election is in November, but no one is sworn in until January.
In 1934, Adolf Hitler ordered the mass jailing and executions of his political rivals. It is known to history as “The Night of Long Knives.” In justifying his act, Hitler gave a speech to the Reichstag in which he decreed:
“If anyone reproaches me and asks why I did not resort to the regular courts of justice, then all I can say is this. In this hour I was responsible for the fate of the German people, and thereby I became the supreme judge of the German people. I gave the order to shoot the ringleaders in this treason, and I further gave the order to cauterize down to the raw flesh the ulcers of this poisoning of the wells in our domestic life. Let the nation know that its existence – which depends on its internal order and security – cannot be threatened with impunity by anyone. And let it be known for all time to come that if anyone raises his hand to strike the state, then certain death is his lot.”
Biden has declared 60-75 million Americans to be domestic terrorists. His supporters are now acting on his toxic and dystopian vision. Will we hear a similar speech to justify his and his party’s actions after the “red wave” threatens his party’s removal from power in January?
The writer is a resident of Franklin who also practices law in Cherokee County.