Calls linking Sen. Ted Cruz to the Capitol rioting are astonishing (Joseph Sabino Mistick’s “Never forget actions of Washington traitors,” Jan. 8, TribLIVE). Why? He committed the heinous crime of advocating for a commission to investigate alleged voting irregularities in the 2020 elections.
Before getting out the digital pitchforks and torches, perhaps a few questions should be raised.
Does a senator have the right to raise objections to election results, or is this unprecedented? There were Democratic objections to the election results in two of the previous four elections.
Is there any merit to his objection? Roughly half of the electorate believes there may have been some voting irregularities, but this is irrelevant. The only requirement for an objection to be considered is that it must be made in writing and signed by a member of the House and Senate. Cruz’s objection met this requirement.
Did Cruz’s request directly lead to the Capitol rioting? Requesting a committee to be formed hardly seems likely to incite riotous actions. If so, there would be riots in towns throughout America, as forming commissions and committees is what public officials do.
What good would a commission do anyway? For one thing, it might lay to rest concerns about voting irregularities. More importantly, it could lead to improvements in the election process. Companies continuously study past results to improve their processes. Aren’t elections worthy of the same consideration? Why not have a commission after every election, regardless of outcome or controversy?
Cruz deserves credit for suggesting a solution to a contentious issue, not such partisan condemnation.
Daniel A. Hosko
Green Tree