This is a plea to those of you who voted for Susan Collins to speak out loudly about her silence on the Republican Party’s attack on our democracy.

Why?

In the words of Sen. Angus King, “We are in the midst of a pivotal moment of American history, as our democracy is faced with dual crises: diminishing faith in our electoral process, and a political party that exploits and encourages these sentiments for short-term political gain.”

In the words of Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, “We are confronting a domestic threat that we’ve never faced before: a former president who’s attempting to unravel the foundations of our Constitutional Republic, aided by political leaders who have made themselves willing hostages to this dangerous and irrational man. … In this time of testing, will we do our duty? Will we do what we must? Will we defend our Constitution? Will we stand for truth? Will we put duty to our oath above partisan politics? Or will we look away from the danger, ignore the threat, embrace the lies and enable the liar?

“There is no gray area when it comes to that question. When it comes to this moment, there is no middle ground.”

For those Collins’ voters who understand the precipice on which this republic finds itself, you need to find your voices and ask her to 1) refute the Big Lie publicly and repudiate the ex-president’s blatant attempt to undermine democracy; 2) vote in favor of securing the right to vote for every citizen in the country without onerous restrictions (she’s already refused to vote to even allow discussion of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act); and, to put her duty to her oath as a senator to “support and defend the constitution” above her party’s politics. Time is short.

 

Karen Heck

Waterville