Maybe some naive souls believe the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy PelosiThe decision to convene a special committee to investigate the congressional riots on January 6 will give the country some insight into the traumatic events that day.
It seems that Pelosi has other motives. She and her party have captured the shameful incident of January 6th, not just as a topic of deployment against the former president. Donald Trump But as a club that can beat everyone Republicans Who is concerned about the security of the election.Six months after Trump’s second impeachment, and SenateHaving failed to approve a 9-11 type committee, Pelosi stubbornly insisted that the renewal of the riots would certainly trigger debate on a range of issues-including some that are not entirely suitable. Democratic Party‘The preferred narrative about the “uprising”.
As the riots subsided further, it became more and more obvious that if Pelosi’s committee were to CNN Either Microsoft National Broadcasting Corporation In retrospect, the Speaker of the House of Representatives will have to allow Trump’s supporters the right to participate in its proceedings and make any points they deem necessary.
That would mean allowing the House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy List the Republicans who will join the committee. But Pelosi did not grant him this right. Her response to McCarthy could not have been better. It could arouse public opinion in the Republican Party and widen the party’s disagreement on the riot. It will certainly convince conservatives—whether they are Trump’s loyal supporters or those who are cautious about his continued involvement in politics—that the committee’s goal is nothing more than political information.
By rejecting McCarthy’s two options-On behalf of Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.)-and nominate two dissident Republicans who are aligned with the Democrats on the issue of “uprising”- represent Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.)-Pelosi eliminated any doubts about what would happen next.
It is customary for the majority to respect the minority’s appointment of their own members, because they have no influence on the committee’s final decision, except for the right to oppose the majority’s opinions and raise inconvenient questions. By sabotaging this convention, Pelosi gave McCarthy and the Republican Party no choice but to refuse to participate in the committee.
With two docile Republican mascots — aptly called “Pelosi Republicans” by McCarthy — along the way, the Democratic majority has effectively persuaded the conservatives that their only goal is to once again Trial Trump and the political right.
Jordan and Banks will do their best to sabotage the committee’s attention to the former president. They would resist seeing the riot as an effort to instigate a conspiracy, rather than the chaotic and violent consequences of a “stop theft” rally, in which hundreds of participants then stormed into the Capitol.
Interrupt CongressThe acceptance of the electoral college results by the joint meeting is a shameful challenge to the rule of law. Even if the so-called rebellion is nothing more than trespassing, disorderly conduct, and fighting with the police, these are the main elements of the hundreds of “essentially peaceful” riots that occurred last summer. Trump’s initial refusal to control his supporters, or immediately condemning them as wrong as soon as they rampage, shows his lack of respect for democratic norms.
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But Pelosi and the Democrats intend to transform January 6 into something more—even after Trump withdraws from the White House, it will continue to be politically useful. Although the talk of the uprising is exaggerated, it allows Democrats to build a political world in which views of the previous government are more important than views of the current government or the narrow majority in the Democratic Congress.
If Pelosi accepts the presence of Republicans such as Jordan and Banks on her committee, members of the Republican Party will have the opportunity to ask questions about what was not in line with the narrative of the uprising on January 6.
Jordan and Banks may have asked Pelosi about the refusal to strengthen security measures in the Capitol, what caused some police to let protesters in while others tried to keep them out, and the possible presence of government informants in the crowd. Does it mean anything.An unnamed law enforcement official decided to shoot and kill an intruder-a veteran named Ashli Babbitt-although she did not appear to pose an obvious threat in the video of the incident, she may be investigated. Instead of being swept out somehow if Babbitt is a Black people’s fate is also fate The demonstrator was shot dead by the police.
Members of the Republican Committee may also ask why the thugs who were later arrested Harsh handling and overcharging It was not caused by the BLM mob.
Allowing McCarthy-appointed Republicans to join the committee also provides Democrats with an opportunity to debunk conspiracy theories and place unimportant details in the appropriate context. Even if Republican members oppose them, it will legitimize the committee and at least give some weight to its conclusions.
But if Pelosi’s goal is to portray all Republicans as part of a conspiracy against democracy, then treating anyone other than the former president’s opponents as unacceptable is in line with the speaker’s political goals. What Pelosi wants is a terrible TV show that reminds liberal audiences and voters of their opponents.
In contrast, this Congress has no interest in exploring the origins of the more widespread and deadly riots that occurred after his death. George Freud last year.At least A poll It shows that compared with another re-discussion on January 6th, more people want to conduct such an investigation.
Pelosi also did not express interest in setting up a committee to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic-this is a priority that both parties should consider. The Democrats don’t seem to want to know whether what happened in Wuhan, China is the result of a laboratory leak. They oppose any discussion about COVID-19, except for blaming Trump for his handling of the pandemic.
The Kangaroo Court on January 6 may help strengthen the Democratic Party’s efforts to portray opponents as fascists, not just people they disagree with. However, for democracy to succeed, both parties must respect each other and be willing to abide by the election. Pelosi’s party has been promoting Trump’s collusion with Russia for years, but it seems that no Trump is more capable of doing this. Pelosi chose to demonize opponents and even demonstrated bipartisan cooperation, which caused as much damage to democracy as her party tried to connect with the Republican party by the mob.
Jonathan S. Tobin is the editor-in-chief of JNS.org, and he is a senior writer at JNS.org Federalist And columnists New York Post. Follow him on Twitter: @jonathans_tobin.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author.
