For months I have read and heard statements from reputable politicians, media people, and Washington, D.C. insiders that many, if not most, elected Republican legislators say in private that they do not want Donald Trump to be the Republican Nominee in the upcoming election, but then refuse to confirm that, or instead actually say they support him, with their public statements.

If those accounts are true, I find their two-faced position appalling.

United States elected officials take oaths to uphold the Constitution and the laws of this country. We, the voters, assume they will and will be honest and truthful in all they do and speak. If they aren’t, I believe they are not living up to their oaths and have no place in leading our country. 

It is a sad state of affairs that so many American voters have fallen for the cult of lies and lawless behavior of prominent people, and that so many elected officials are willing to excuse them in order to maintain their political position.

I believe this next national election will determine if this country will turn to authoritarianism or continue with our flawed but functioning democracy. If voters turn to authoritarianism, then those officials that spoke against it in private but supported that position publicly will be culpable in democracy’s demise. Unfortunately, we will all suffer the consequences, but I suppose those officials will be happy to maintain their so-called powerful positions, as well as the benefits that they include—except living in a country that is governed by the rule of law.

If this outcome is to be stopped, we need many more persons of prominence to speak truth to power even if that costs them. I am sure our Founding Fathers and the millions of Americans that have fought for and/or died to protect what we have are turning in their graves at the thought of this abhorrent behavior.

Ken Kaiyala
1-9-23