To the Editor:

I recently heard a politician claim that the next election will be acceptable “If it’s free and fair.”

That’s a dangerous lie. Our elections are already free and fair. Actual voter fraud is so infrequent as to be statistically negligible. And yet some people continue to insist, with no proof whatsoever, that millions of people vote illegally. It's a contemptible, cowardly strategy. And it could very well lead to another January 6.

That terrible day wasn't “legitimate political discourse.” It was an outrage to peaceful self-governance. People died as a result of it. Scores of Capitol officers were overwhelmed and brutalized. Some were nearly killed on the spot. Many were permanently maimed. A former President enjoyed the chaos from the safety of the White House dining room. These are all facts.

Decent Americans often disagree—and often bitterly disagree—about how to maintain our great nation. That's part of being American. Decent people accept that we have our legitimate political differences. Many people I truly respect feel exactly as I do, even if we don’t always (or ever) agree about politics.

In complete contrast to that spirit, certain indicted people seek to (re)gain power through continuous lies or by dehumanizing others as “vermin” or “mentally unstable,” etc. Election deniers support this un-American behavior by claiming they'll only accept the results of the coming elections IF they’re free and fair.

Ask any election denier if our current President legitimately won in 2020, and you’ll be answered with some slimy dodge instead of a simple yes or no answer. I have three questions for election deniers: Can people float off the ground like soap bubbles, yes or no? Does gravity work, yes or no? Did a former President lose by millions of votes in 2020, yes or no?

Many election deniers claim to represent the party of “law and order” and “personal responsibility.” These are admirable qualities and definitely worth promoting. But now, some people are even claiming that responses to the weather itself are part of a sinister plot to “interfere” with elections. These stunningly callous lies are despicable, dangerous, and unacceptable. In reality, federal and state governments are working hard to assist the recent hurricanes’ brave survivors.

I’d be dishonest here myself if I didn’t align all the nonstop lies with manure. Actually, I take that back: that would be an insult to manure, which has its good uses.

Donald J. McNutt
Potsdam