Talbot County has now joined jurisdictions throughout our nation as a venue for cockeyed notions about “voter integrity.” While the term seems lofty, it travels the guttery routes of so many claims that scarred our public discourse after the 2020 Presidential election.
To so many of his delusional supporters, Trump simply could not be a loser. Of course he was. And is. The election was legitimate, as validated by our country’s judicial system.
I find it sadly ironic that “integrity” is assigned to anything with which Trump is engaged. Living in a world populated by grievances and slights, Trump could/would not imagine that Americans would not grant him another disastrous term as president.
He decided the election was rigged. Supporters of his mentioned in Phil Jackson’s excellent letter to the editor in the Talbot Spy and those who wrote subsequent comments curiously question an unquestionable plebiscite.
The Maryland Voter Integrity Group cabal has used errant information to claim mischief in the 2020 election. Their implied disparagement of the county election board is an inexcusable insult to the honorable people who work as employees and volunteers.
One commenter recommended a public forum to air both sides of election integrity. They wave the flag of free speech, even when it wreaks of clearly constructed disinformation. A public session would enable the misguided proponents of “voter integrity” to spread useless information.
Trump incited an insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol. Now his acolytes are joining him in characterizing not only national elections but local and state ones as being rigged. Do they feel equally strongly about the election of Republicans such as Rep. Andy Harris or State Senator
Johnny Mautz? Were these gentlemen able to bypass the supposed web of deception perpetrated by impartial election boards and scheming Democrats?
I smell the despicable odor of voter suppression. Again, I commend Republicans for their cleverness. Targeting citizens who may not fully understand the election process, Republicans strive to plant doubt and suspicion.
Phil Jackson, a candidate in the recent election for Talbot County Council, correctly dissected the real purpose of the Voter Integrity Group session. He called it out as a charade. He deserves credit from all county citizens.
I always hope that people of all political stripes would treasure democracy and defend it against attacks and false assertions by Trump and his devoted followers. My optimism is unwarranted. Our country suffers. So does Talbot County.
Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. After 44 years in Easton, Howard and his wife, Liz, moved in November 2020 to Annapolis, where they live with Toby, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who has no regal bearing, just a mellow, enticing disposition.
Alan Boisvert says
These anti-constitutionalist,fact-refusing trumpers infest our society everywhere