After the storm on the Capitol in Washington, US politicians across all parties were appalled. A year later, the Republican leaders are no longer even ready to join the Democrats in commemorating the victims.
The anniversary of the U.S. Capitol’s storming has revealed just how big the gap is between Democrats and Republicans in the country. While shortly after January 6, 2021 there was still cross-party horror at the attack on the heart of American democracy, the commemoration in the party of ex-President Donald Trump met with disinterest at best – and often with sharp criticism. At various events in Washington on the occasion of the sad anniversary, Democrats in particular spoke up, while Republicans were noticeably reluctant to make public statements or did not appear at all.
Republicans avoid minute’s silence in the Capitol
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy posted a photo on Twitter of a minute’s silence, with the Senate and House of Representatives remembering the attack by supporters of the elected President Donald Trump. Only two members of the Republicans attended the ceremony: Elizabeth Lynne Cheney, the intimate enemy of Trump and his supporters and chair of the Congressional Committee investigating the January 6, 2021 incidents, and her 80-year-old father, former US Vice President Dick Cheney. “An extraordinary picture of where the politics of this country are now,” commented Murphy on the photo.
Dick Cheney also made clear what he thinks of the attitude that large parts of his party are showing towards the attack on the Capitol: “The importance of January 6th as a historical event cannot be overestimated. It was an honor and I am proud to join my daughter in the House of Representatives to recognize this anniversary, to honor the heroic deeds of law enforcement on that day and to reaffirm our commitment to the Constitution, “said former Vice-President George W. Bush on Twitter Liz Cheny with. “I am deeply disappointed at the failure of many in my party to recognize the gravity of the January 6 attacks and the ongoing threat to our country.”
When asked by reporters how he viewed the Republican leadership’s approach to the anniversary, Cheney, who was also a long-time congressman, said, “It’s not a leadership that looks like the people I knew when I was here ten years . “
At the head of this leadership is the Senate Republican Supreme Leader, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. In the weeks after the storm on the Capitol, he had found clear words for the attack and its originator: “There is no question that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day,” said McConnell in February 2021 clear and spoke of a “shameful, shameful breach of duty”. Trump’s “crescendo of conspiracy theories” caused the uprising in the Capitol. His supporters had “stormed the Capitol in his name” and “carried his flags”.
Less than a year later, the Republican leader only published a written statement in which he called the attack “a dark day for Congress and our country” and described the attackers of that time as “criminals”. Instead of re-naming who was responsible for the attack, McConnell accused “some” Democrats of exploiting the anniversary “to advance party political goals.” The 79-year-old did not take part in the commemoration in the Capitol. He preferred to travel with a delegation to the funeral of a former Republican senator in Atlanta, Georgia.
McConnell’s counterpart in the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, also stayed away from the memorial service of the two chambers. In fact, the leader of the Republican minority completely ignored the anniversary and made no public statement. Likewise Mike Pence: The former Vice President, who feared for his life on January 6th and had to flee when the rioters “Hang Mike Pence!” entered the Capitol chanting, the sad anniversary was not worth a public word.
Not a word of criticism of Donald Trump
The prominent Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, however, expressed concern: “I still cannot believe that a mob was able to storm the United States Capitol at such a crucial moment – the confirmation of the presidential elections. It would be for terrorists It was easy to join the protest and cause more destruction in the Capitol, “he tweeted.
However, Graham then switched to political aggression, describing and accusing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ commemorative addresses at the Capitol as “an attempt to revive a failed presidency instead of celebrating the anniversary of a dark day in American history.” “Brazen attempts to use January 6 to support radical electoral reform”.
Similar allegations came from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is being traded as a potential presidential candidate for 2024: “This is your Christmas, January 6th,” he told reporters telling Democrats and the media. “They will take advantage of this to slander anyone who has ever supported Donald Trump.”
DeSantis railed against those comparing the severity of the January 6th events to the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, saying that most Florida residents had other problems on their mind. “I think it’s just going to be a politicized Charlie Foxtrot today,” he explained, using military jargon to describe a chaotic situation. “I think it’s going to be frankly nauseating.”
Republican MPs Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene had also arranged their own press appearance: Trump supporters again spread right-wing conspiracy stories and voiced the unsubstantiated suspicion that authorities such as the FBI could have been involved in the storming of the Capitol.
The MPs could not answer the question about a possible motive. “I don’t trust our government,” said Greene. Gaetz said: “Marjorie and I are here today because we don’t want the voice of the Republicans to go unheard, and because we don’t want today’s historical narrative to be hijacked and appropriated by those who are the real rebels.” In a podcast by former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, Gaetz said: “We are not ashamed of anything. We are proud of the work we did on January 6th to make legitimate arguments about the integrity of the elections.”
And of course Trump himself did not leave the anniversary uncommented: The ex-president accused his successor of “political theater” with which the latter is merely trying to distract from the “fact that he has totally failed”. The Democrats accused Trump of using the memory of the storming of the Capitol “to stir up fear and divide America”. Once again he called the 2020 presidential election a “crime”.
He had done the same on January 6, 2021 and in a speech encouraged his audience to march to the congress. Hundreds of radical Trump supporters then stormed the seat of Congress when President Joe Biden’s election victory was to be certified there. Five people died. Trump continues to spread the lie to this day that he was deprived of a second term through massive electoral fraud. There is virtually no opposition to this false assertion from among the ranks of the Republicans. Given the popularity of the ex-president among the grassroots, hardly anyone within the party dares to criticize Trump or face him openly.
Sources: ,,,, DPA, AFP
Source From: Stern
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