Introduction
In today’s polarized political landscape, the actions and statements of public figures are scrutinized intensely, often revealing a deep divide in accountability and ethical standards. This examination delves into the conduct of several high-profile politicians, assessing their controversial decisions, public statements, and the ensuing legal and ethical debates. From allegations of misconduct to the challenges of maintaining integrity in public office, we explore how these incidents shape public trust and the broader political discourse. Herein, we analyze not just the actions but also the response—or lack thereof—of their peers and the public, highlighting the complex dynamics of accountability in American politics.
Honest republicans — Ken Buck, Liz Cheney, Mitt Romney, and Adam Kinzinger — have blasted the republican party for their lies, demonstrating a commitment to truth and integrity even in the face of partisan pressure. Their courageous stance highlights the importance of honesty and accountability in political discourse. Yet many do not have the courage to admit that these serious problems belong to the republican party alone.
Excuses Excuses
All the unwise excuses people use to justify unwise choices: “I don’t eat stevia or monk fruit because it is not healthy so I will just have to sugar dessert.” My reply: “I’d rather do that than spike my blood sugar or be fat.”
The unwise: “I would have ordered a salad for lunch, but salads at restaurants aren’t really healthy either. They’re often loaded with high-calorie dressings and topped with lots of processed meats and cheeses, so I figured I might as well have the burger and fries instead.” My reply: “That’s why I tell them to use oil and vinegar, not to have deli meats, I also avoid the carbs in the bread, and I avoid the high fats are in the burger especially if it is a cheeseburger.”
The unwise: “Both parties are bad…” My reply: “This is what people say when they cannot admit that the Republican Party alone has become quite dysfunctional, immoral, irrational, and mendacious.”
The unwise: “Joe Biden is a crook and no better than Trump.” My reply: “This accusation lacks verified information and context. Accusations of corruption should be backed by credible evidence, but Republican attackers have none. Trying to find fault in Joe Biden without specific examples, merely to justify continued support for Donald Trump, dilutes the seriousness of your claims. You should review Biden’s track record and consider that legal and ethical investigations have turned up nothing.”
The unwise: “Joe Biden is dumb, do you hear the way he talks?” My reply: “He is certainly not dumb. You are confusing stuttering with stupidity, which is prejudiced and shows a lack of understanding about what stuttering involves.”
The unwise: “Joe Biden is senile.” My reply: “That’s a common misconception used by the right wing to undermine Biden and justify voting for Trump. Aging doesn’t necessarily equate to senility. It’s important to differentiate between normal signs of aging and actual cognitive decline, which should be medically diagnosed, not casually speculated. Additionally, Biden’s physician saw no reason to order a mental exam.”
If people have seen all the barbaric activities of the republican party and deny them, then they need professional or spiritual help. Donald Trump has 94 indictments against him that non-partisan grand juries said should go to trial and most dangerously evoked the capitol attack Jan 6.
The Culprits
Mitch McConnell’s strategic blocking of legislation and judicial appointmentsundermines democratic processes.
Ted Cruz’s role in challenging the certification of the 2020 presidential election results is flagrant at minimum. He played a pivotal role in the 2013 federal government shutdown, pushing hard against funding the government without stripping funding from the ACA, which was highly criticized by both Democrats and some Republicans. He tried to overturn the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and famously conducted a 21-hour filibuster-like speech on the Senate floor in an attempt to defund the ACA. He blocked Supreme Court Nominations such as Merrick Garland’s nomination in 2016 and advocated for the swift confirmation of Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett under the Trump administration. He denies t the science of climate change, characterizing the data supporting it as unreliable and calling efforts to combat climate change costly mistakes. He has been a vocal advocate for tougher immigration policies, including support for building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and various policies aimed at reducing legal immigration levels. During the 2016 presidential campaign, he employed questionable campaign tactics, including spreading misleading information about Ben Carson’s campaign during the Iowa caucuses.
Marjorie Taylor Greene has endorsed conspiracy theories and employed extreme rhetoric. She has been criticized for making racist statements. During the Capitol insurrection, it was reported that she leaked information about the whereabouts of the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. Despite professing Christian family values, her actions reveal a hypocritical stance towards the LGBTQ community, alongside reports of her having affairs with at least two different men.
Matt Gaetz has vocally supported extreme political views and has been embroiled in various personal and legal controversies. He is now being investigated for sexual relationships with underage women and sex trafficing, which have been a source of significant acrimony. Despite these serious claims, many Republicans have not publicly addressed these issues. Similar could be said of Gym Jordan who knew about sexual abuse but never reported it.
Democrat Accountability
Al Franken, a former U.S. Senator from Minnesota, resigned in January 2018 amid allegations of sexual misconduct from several women, who accused him of inappropriate touching and kissing. The first public complaint, made by Leeann Tweeden, involved an incident where Franken forcibly kissed her during a 2006 USO tour and took a photo with his hands over her breasts while she slept. As the #MeToo movement gained momentum, an increasing number of Democratic colleagues pressured Franken to step down, reflecting a strong stance against sexual misconduct within the party. Franken resigned, acknowledging that although he disputed some claims, he could no longer effectively serve his constituents.
Yet Republicans have not taken similar-honest actions against their members accused of worse abuses, such as Trump and Gaetz, among others. Look how they treated Clinton for receiving a blow job when Trump has been found liable for sexual abuse. This highlights a hypocritical stance within the party; they appear to give Trump carte blanche. They prove to be hypocrites.
Even in the case of serial liar and alleged fraudster George Santos, who is no longer a member of Congress, many republicans refused to vote him out of office. The New York Republican was expelled from his office after a successful two-thirds majority vote to secure his ouster. Of the 311 representatives who voted to remove Santos, 105 were members of his own party but a huge number of dishonest, party-only republicans — including more notorious members such as House Speaker Johnson, Lauren Boebert, Steve Scalise, and Marjorie Taylor-Greene — vote against removing him.
Logical Fallacies
We cannot afford as a nation to listen to the dishonest right-wing rhetoric that makes up lies about the democrats to justify voting republican. When right-wing rhetoric involves making up lies about Democrats to justify voting for Republicans, this is primarily an example of the Begging the Question fallacy, also known as Circular Reasoning. This fallacy occurs when an argument’s conclusion is assumed in the premise, often involving some form of restated conclusion as a form of “evidence” that leads back to itself without genuine substantiation.
For instance, if the statement is “We should vote Republican because Democrats are corrupt,” and the evidence provided is simply that “Democrats make corrupt policies,” but no genuine evidence of corruption is shown, the argument presumes what it’s trying to prove without real justification. It uses a presumed characteristic of Democrats (corruption, in this example) as the sole basis for voting Republican, without addressing or proving the initial claim of corruption.
Republicans fail to uphold the integrity of our discussions and arguments. When facing accusations involving their party, they counter by highlighting made-up issues within the Democratic party. However, they must avoid falling into logical fallacies that can undermine their credibility:
Tu Quoque Fallacy: This is seen when they respond to proofs against Republicans by immediately pointing to faults in Democrats. While accountability across parties is essential, this shouldn’t distract the republicans from addressing and resolving their own issues first. Instead, they seek to find faults on the other side and create lies to do so.
Red Herring Fallacy: In their political discourse, it’s important not to divert attention from significant issues within their own party by shifting focus to unverified claims against Democrats. Staying focused on the main issue ensures productive discussions and solutions. Because they have not chosen the moral way, they are a party that has imploded. Don’t listen to their dishonest rhetoric.
Cherry Picking: Conservatives used to value thoroughness and accuracy. But instead they select evidence that only supports their viewpoints, while ignoring contrary evidence. This does not provide a full picture. They fail to consider all available information to form well-rounded views.
For example, in the case of allegations made by individuals like Alexander Smirnov against the Bidens, they must demand the same level of scrutiny and evidence that they expect to be applied to accusations within their own party. It’s important to base their arguments and decisions on substantiated information rather than unproven allegations to maintain the moral and ethical standards we champion. Because they have failed to be honest about Trump and other party members, wise people sit back and see the hypocrisy, lies, and most audacious evil.
Comparing the bad of the republicans with the democrats is like comparing apples with watermelons. It sizes up to the logical fallacy of a false equivalent. In this election, the republican party’s refusal to correct its own malevolence and mendacity and the lies they tell against Biden invalidates voting for them. If you want more information, read my book, The War on Reason.
Conclusion
The unsubstantiated claims against Joe Biden have proven to be nothing more than projection and deflection by Republicans. The actions and controversies surrounding political figures such as Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, and others spotlight a significant issue within American politics: the challenge of maintaining ethical standards and accountability. While accusations and investigations vary, the republican response to these issues often seems to reflect deeper partisan biases rather than a uniform commitment to justice and truth. This disparity not only erodes public trust but also undermines the fundamental principles of democratic governance. Those who cannot admit the deep guilt in their party disparage the other side so they can feel dishonestly honest about their own side by bringing down the other side.
As we navigate these tumultuous political waters, it is crucial for both parties and their supporters to strive for consistency in addressing misconduct, irrespective of political affiliation. Yet, it is clear that the Republicans are the ones playing games and spreading falsehoods. Only through a genuine and unbiased pursuit of truth can the nation hope to restore faith in its leaders and the systems that hold them accountable. Moving forward, voters and leaders alike must demand transparency and integrity, recognizing that the health of our democracy depends not just on the actions of a few, but on the accountability demanded by the many. You as a voter must be honest and not pull these false equvalents of all are bad just to deflect from the fact that your party is in trouble.