To the Editor:

You would think, after the terrible attempt on Trump’s life, MAGA politicians would realize we’re at a critical point in toxic, violent politics. Every Democrat has called for dialing down the rhetoric and focusing on unity. But MAGA politicians are simply giving lip service, while continuing to whip up fury chanting: “Fight, Fight, Fight”.

Republicans had the opportunity to pull the country together during Covid by emphasizing consideration for fellow citizens - but spread conspiracy theories and suggestions of government overreach instead. They didn’t accept that 7M more people voted for Biden - but chose to spread unfounded election fraud lies. They could have demanded a ban on AR-15 assault weapons after every mass shooting - but instead, influenced the Supreme Court to reverse President Biden’s AR-15 ban, putting military killing-machines back on the streets and into the hands of Trump’s shooter.  

This could have been a moment for the MAGA party to realize that from the beginning, their methods of demonizing Democrats, immigrants and government regulation has only attracted angry, gun-hugging, resentment-filled followers. And if you recently watched the neo-Nazis parading in Nashville, TN chanting “Hilter was right”, wearing shirts reading Whites Against Replacement (WAR), you’d say they’ve done a very good job of stirring up an undercurrent of hate in America - just as they’ve intended. 

“Oh, but Democrats are “haters” and their “incendiary rhetoric” caused the shooting”. That’s the propaganda the MAGA politicians hope will keep us in two oppositional camps. But the truth behind that manipulation is that the RNC is trying to divert from the media circulating the details of their Project 2025. Hard to shut Pandora’s Box - now that Democrats are reading the 887-page written manifesto. 

Project 2025 calls for ignoring the Constitution, eliminating the Department of Justice, filling all 20,000 government positions with Trump loyalists and granting Trump unlimited power. Democrats recognize their responsibility to alert voters to the fascist aspects of the MAGA plan that will ultimately undermine democracy as we know it. Sharing this information isn’t incendiary hype, a lie or exaggeration. Read it for yourself. https://www.project2025.org/policy/

Unity was never the goal of MAGA (Make America Great for some, not all). Clear-sighted Democrats and Republicans alike understand the difference between a party pushing issues to purposely divide us and one that’s still committed to actual democratic principles - upholding rule-of-law, safeguarding citizens, encouraging voter education, respecting women’s rights and demonstrating compassion. 

Martha Hodges
Massena