Violence is Never Acceptable
On behalf of the Pima County Republican Party, we send well wishes to Paul Pelosi, husband of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, for a full and speedy recovery. The threats and attacks on political figures, their families, and those who work in politics have doubled from 2020 to 2021 according to the Department of Homeland Security. The violent attack from the lone gunman who was said to be distraught over President Trump’s election and opened fire on members of the Republican congressional baseball team in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2017 using a rifle to shower the field with bullets that struck four people, to the knife assault of Rep. Lee Zeldin, Republican candidate in the New York gubernatorial race, to this most recent assault of Speaker Pelosi’s husband is not who Americans are or who we want to be seen as on the world stage.
The National Terrorism Advisory System issued a bulletin on June 7, 2022, Summary of Terrorism Threat to the United States which highlights “… continued proliferation of false or misleading narratives regarding current events could reinforce existing personal grievances or ideologies, and in combination with other factors, could inspire individuals to mobilize to violence.” As the rhetoric heats up before the midterm elections, DHS has assessed that “calls for violence by domestic violent extremists directed at democratic institutions, political candidates, party offices, election events, and election workers will increase. “While the government has assessed that this is likely, it nonetheless makes it unacceptable.
They Have Hidden Agendas
Mobilizing to violence and creating narratives that are false and misleading are the foundation of the problem. An E-Tracks reader shared with me a statement he received from someone regarding voter intimidation and voter suppression:
“Shelley has been part of training these people how to intimidate voters. I used to get her newsletter which clearly stated what they were doing. They had certain people who led the trainings and it was to specifically intimidate voters…it was clearly stated in her newsletters.”
As all newsletters are posted on our website, I can say with confidence that not only is this statement false, but it is an attempt to proliferate a false or misleading narrative. Statements such as this are the foundation that those who want to mobilize to violence use while remaining outside the fringe and appearing innocent of wrongdoing. The Pima County Republican Party does not participate in creating this threat environment nor will we tolerate those who do.
Eight More Days
The next eight days are going to be busier than ever as we work to make sure our Republican voters are getting their ballots turned in or able to vote in person on election day. The campaigns will be working to get their message to the voters. The Elections Department will be scheduling Poll Workers at the 129 Vote Centers in Pima County. Some voters may just now be considering who they might vote for in these midterms!
For those of us who participate in the political process, these are exciting times. We are excited for our candidates, proud of the American voting process, pleased with the changes in the process that have been put in place to ensure a fair and transparent election, and eager for the outcome. Let’s stay focused on what we need to do to win elections and make November 8, 2022, a night to remember.
Join me. Let’s elect Republicans down the ticket!