And to the Republic…

Like so many around the world, I was speechless watching the siege of the Capitol on Wednesday by domestic terrorists inspired by propaganda and “alternative facts.” They believed that through force, our democracy would “recalculate” and declare victory for the person who did not win the election. 

Through our fair process, certified over and over again, Joe Biden not only won the popular vote, but he also won the Electoral College votes. By a lot. So no, the election was not rigged. The election was not stolen. It certainly was not a landslide for the person who lost. Biden won, fair and square. Any statement to the contrary is not true. Period. 

The power of words, especially when used to incite violence and to create pure fiction, is very, very dangerous. Shame on those who jumped on the bandwagon and allowed fuel to be added to the fire.

I have voted for both parties throughout my life, but I sincerely hope that a lot more than the 80 million Americans who voted for Biden understand what’s really  happening here and see the current occupant of the White House for who he is. He is not a leader. He is not concerned about our country. He is not preserving, protecting, and defending the Constitution of the United States, as he promised to do when sworn in four years ago.

Going to college in DC allowed me to take advantage of all that city has to offer a young journalism major. An internship at The Washington Post,  a stint as news director at GW’s radio station, and a voracious student soaking up everything I could from the hard-nosed, old fashioned, crusty journalism professors, inspired me to traverse down the career path I’m still on today.

My first job out of college was at the Washington Bureau of a New York television station. I was a field producer at the State Department, the White House, the Pentagon, and at the Capitol. I had hit the career jackpot. To this day, I cherish every moment spent roaming the halls of those buildings that built, and now protect, this great nation, interacting with the (mostly, in those days) men and women who govern our country, and participating in historic press briefings, chopper landings, State visits by foreign dignitaries, and White House Christmas parties. 

It was a privilege to attend two State of the Union addresses. Being in the House chamber with every member of Congress, the Cabinet (always minus one), and the Supreme Court justices in their robes is both awe-inspiring and sacred in the true sense of those words.

And now we fast forward to yesterday. Seeing those hoodlums literally hang from the walls of the chambers, vandalize offices, put their feet up on the desks of duly elected Senators, break windows, and simply wander through that magnificent building looting and pillaging brought tears to my eyes. It was and always will be a disgrace. No amount of spin or mischaracterization by narcissistic actors with self-serving, undemocratic intentions will ever change that. 

And now today, we are asked if this incident will bring the nation together, to heal the wounds of division, the way that another terrorist attack did on 9-11. The answer is no. The attack on September 11 came from outside our country. This was domestic terrorism that came from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. From the President of the United States. Let that sink in. 

But nearly 24 hours later, there is one optimistic note. Once it was safe to do so, the democratically-elected members of Congress went back and finished the job they set out to do. It took them until the early hours of this morning, but their commitment to democracy and the Constitution brought me to tears.  

And with that, let’s raise a glass to the Republic, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.