The January 6th Committee: Partisan? My Ass.

10.14.22

To the editor:

Perhaps it is unsurprising given these divisive times to take issue with Christopher Caldwell's characterization of the Jan. 6th Committee as 'pursuing their case in a grandiose and ideological manner, tarring Mr. Trump’s voting base as a bunch of authoritarians and election deniers' (10.13.22 The Jan.6th Committee Has Been Almost Wholly Ineffective). There are three groups of Republicans: those who are lying to promote their political self-interest; those who are vulnerable, susceptible to believing the lie and who are being victimized by the very politicians they support; those disillusioned conservatives who see today's Republican Party as unrecognizable and a threat to our democracy. Liz Cheney, clearly in the last camp, has been explicit in making the important distinction between those Republicans who knowingly lie and those who have been lied to and now believe the lie. Both of these groups comprise 'election deniers.' But the psychology and motivations involved are fundamentally different. Cheney has expressed sympathy towards those individuals who must face being deceived by those they trusted. This is not tarring Trump's voting base.

Respectfully

Larry S Sandberg