From their silence, we could already guess Arkansas Republicans felt this way, but it’s now the official position of their  political party:

In voting to censure Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for joining in the investigation of the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot by seditionists hoping to overturn the election of Joe Biden, the Republican National Committee said of the two:

Advertisement

they were participating in “persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse.”

Where is the Arkansas elected Republican official — congressmen, senators, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, land commissioner, auditor, treasurer, representative, senator, Supreme Court justice who will repudiate this? Where is a single one of that number who’ll repudiate pardons for the rioters, which Trump has supported, or declare that Mike Pence should not have attempted to overturn the election, as Trump has also said. (OK, I think the governor passes this last test.)

Clubbing police. Breaking windows. Defecating on the U.S. Capitol. This is legitimate political discourse?

Advertisement

Imagine if an angry horde of Democrats armed with chemical sprays, clubs, flagpoles and more surged past police into the Arkansas Capitol and talked of hanging the lieutenant governor, brutalized police officers and crapped on the floor in the rotunda? What if nine people died and 150 officers were injured?  Would Arkansas Republicans call this legitimate political discourse and demand that no investigation be done?

By their silence, Arkansas Republicans have done no less.

Advertisement

It is shameful. It is also distressing that there’s an apparent lack of voters in Arkansas willing to call them to account. The attorney general of Arkansas even bragged about the fomenter of the riot, Donald Trump, calling her out fondly at a rally in Texas last weekend. Here’s another non-hypothetical for her to refuse to answer: Does she endorse the censure of Cheney and Kinzinger and the description of the riot as legitimate discourse? An enterprising reporter should put these questions, the pardon and the election reversal to every single Republican they can find and record the answer or non-answer.

Wait for this real-life example of the Arkansas version of Trumpistan. It is  the case of Don Cook, the Little Rock lawyer severely wounded by a State Police “non-lethal” blast to the face for the alleged crime of lingering on Capitol grounds a few minutes after a curfew imposed on a Black Lives Matter demonstration outside the Arkansas Capitol. He harmed no one. He paid with three surgeries, a titanium jaw replacement and an entire row of tooth implants.

Advertisement

He’s made a claim for his extensive medical expenses. The state is fighting him. He WAS engaged in legitimate political discourse  in June 2020 — by assembly in quiet demonstration of solidarity with those protesting police brutality. He was brutalized. Should the Claims Commission award him medical costs over objections of the State Police, would the Arkansas Republican legislature approve the claim?

Their silence over pardons for Trump rioters is a clue. Now if Cook had been wearing a MAGA hat …

Advertisement

PS: One of many incredulous reactions to RNC:

Advertisement

The censure was done by voice vote but had overwhelming support. Arkansas members of the RNC: state chair Jonelle Fulmer, Jonathan Barnett and Mindy McAlindon. In announcing recently as a candidate for House from the Bentonville area, McAlindon described herself as a conservative who believes in the Constitution.

PPS: Here’s how cowardly Arkansas Republicans are. Even Mike Pence — MIKE PENCE! — said today that Trump was wrong to say Pence had the right to overturn the election Jan. 6.

Be a Part of the Fight

Step up and make a difference by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, the progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock that's been fighting for truth for 50 years. Our tough, determined, and feisty journalism has earned us over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, all of whom value our commitment to holding the powerful accountable. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Join us in the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times today.

Previous article The Snow Day Edition Next article COVID today: 29 more deaths but new cases continue to fall.