Dear Editor,
Here is my response to the letter entitled “Local GOP group remains devoted to former President,” published in the Event-News Enterprise, Feb. 3, 2021, written by Nancy Hathcock, President-West Orange County Republican Women Federated.
I would like to respond to a few statements in this article:
- “we firmly believe that the Republican Party is the Party of Trump”
- Comment: Your organization has every right to make this statement. However, the main arm of the Republican Party is the Republican National Committee and they have not made this statement. So, since the Republican National Committee has not made this statement, I request that you rephrase your statement to “we firmly believe in the Party of Trump”, whatever that may be. Your statement is not currently endorsed by the Republican National Committee.
- “there is an overwhelming belief that election fraud is solely responsible for your not having been reelected.”
- Comment: On January 6, 2021, at the joint session of Congress, the electoral votes of all the states were certified. Certify, according to Merriam-Webster is “to attest as being true or as represented or as meeting a standard”. There were many legal challenges prior to this certification which were found to not constitute any indication of fraud whatsoever. So, if you disagree with this certification, then I conclude that you disagree with how the political system of our democratic government works. And, in my opinion, it works very well. According to Merriam-Webster, your statement of “fraud” above would probably be considered a conspiracy theory—“a theory asserting that a secret of great importance is being kept from the public.” Upon what basis is your belief? You did not state that, and no one else has to this date stated any evidence of fraud in this election.
- “The House of Representatives rushed through the impeachment vote without giving you any due process.”
- Comment: What do you mean by due process? Do you mean that ex-President Trump or attorneys representing him should have had an opportunity to request a formal reply to the article of impeachment, as sent to the Senate, “incitement of insurrection against the U.S. government?” The House of Representatives draws up the article(s) of impeachment and the Senate conducts the trial using due diligence and due process.
- “the Senate will hold an unconstitutional trial..”
- Comment: At the beginning of the trial in the Senate, the Senate voted on February 9 that the trial of an ex-president was constitutional. You can state whatever you want, but if you disagree, you are undermining our democratic system of government. Our democracy is strong because, even when there is disagreement, the people as a whole endorse our Constitution, accept the laws by which we are governed, and accept the decisions of the courts.
My conclusion: It is obvious to me that you cannot as yet accept what has transpired in our country since our election on November 3. I feel sorry for you and our great country, because you have your heels dug into the sand with your opinions and I repeat, your opinions, and are strongly opposed to our great United States of America as it exists today.
Art Oster
Rossmoor
