If you’re the least bit familiar with the book 1984 by George Orwell, then you’ll recall this line from the novel which describes exactly how the authoritarian government overseen by Big Brother manages to keep the populace in complete ignorance, eternally compliant:
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
Truth is not truth in the world of Big Brother. Your eyes and your ears are deceiving you. We will tell you what is real and what is fiction.
And that’s exactly what’s transpiring right now among some Republicans in Congress: They’re denying there was rioting and an insurrection on January 6 at the U.S. Capitol. Instead, they insist, the rioters were tourists, not rabid pro-Trump supporters who chanted that Vice President Mike Pence should be hanged from the nearest noose.
What can be done about this denial of fact? Can these extreme factual deniers be punished?
Maybe so, according to Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), who has introduced a bill to censure three GOP members of the House, Salon reports:
“The censure bill, proposed by Democratic Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., is focused on Republican Reps. Andrew Clyde, Paul Gosar, and Jody Hice, three key players alleged to have aided some organizing ahead of Jan. 6.
“‘These members cannot be allowed to rewrite history at their convenience by disrespecting the sacrifices made by Capitol police officers and downplaying the violent, destructive intent that rioters carried into this sacred building,’ Cicilline stated in a letter to fellow lawmakers. ‘The January 6th insurrection was an attack on our democracy that we must continue to defend against today,’ he added. As for the exact wording of the resolution slated to be introduced by Cicilline, that remains a work in process.”
The censure motion is certainly needed, especially in light of what Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) said recently during a hearing in the House:
“There was an undisciplined mob. There were some rioters and some who committed acts of vandalism. But let me be clear, there was no insurrection, and to call it an insurrection, in my opinion, is a bold-faced lie. Watching the TV footage of those who entered the Capitol, and walk through Statuary Hall, showed people in an orderly fashion staying between the stanchions and ropes taking videos and pictures, you know.”
Let us be clear, too, Congressman Clyde: Your remarks are complete and utter bullshit. January 6 was a riot and an insurrection. Even many of your Republican colleagues have said so.
How else do we know there was a violent insurrection and that Mr. Clyde is aware of that fact? Well, he was one of the members of Congress helping put up a barricade to keep the rioters out of the House chamber, as shown in this photo:
Nothing happened, Congressman Clyde? Then what in the hell are you doing in the photo? Holding an impromptu committee meeting? Stop insulting our intelligence! Not all of us choose to be willfully ignorant so we can stay in the good graces of a failed, one-term former president who would gladly grind you into powder if it suited his selfish purposes.
Censure all of these assholes? Yes! Every last one of them while Democrats have the majority (and the votes) and can do so. Otherwise, we should all get used to rejecting the evidence of our eyes and ears and preparing to swear allegiance to whatever form of Big Brother that’s presented before us for mandatory worship.
