To the Editor:
I wholeheartedly agree with him that a local election judge’s comment to a Democrat voter of “You should be shot” was abhorrent. I am glad that person was relieved of their duties. Mr. Chamberlain thought the judge was “emboldened by the daily hate-speech of the Republican party.”
In the same breath, he supports the local protesters. Concerning those protestors in Chandler Park, “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” Some of those protestors’ “love-filled” messages include calling the President a Nazi, a tyrant, fascist, a pedophile and a threat to democracy. Might that rhetoric rile someone up? Add to that- “F*ck Ice”, “No Faux-King Way,' 'Flip Me Off If You Love a Pedophile,” and “Wake Up & Smell the Fascism.” Might that “embolden” someone? At last year’s Lincoln Day Dinner, these same protestors were out with similar signs in Chandler Park, including at least two I saw calling for the assassination of Donald Trump. And this was AFTER two assassination attempts on his life. Numerous other signs had “F*ck Trump.”
At the state level we had a Democrat running for U.S. Senate, Julianna Stratton. An entire campaign ad had numerous people saying, “F*ck Trump.” If that is all the better one can express oneself, that’s sad.
On the national stage, the Democrat Party keeps it going there as well. In 2023, Rep. Dan Goldman said Trump “has to be eliminated.” President Biden to donors in 2024 said “time to put Trump in the bullseye.” This was AFTER the first assassination attempt! Famously, Hillary Clinton called Republican supporters of Trump “a basket of deplorables.” With no evidence, supporters are called Nazis, bigots, white supremacists, racists, homophobes, etc. Biden also said of Trump, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.” Chuck Schumer threatened Supreme Court justices! Maxine Waters said of Trump supporters, “you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere!” Kamala Harris asked, 'Does one of us have to come out alive?' when talking about if she'd rather be stuck on an elevator with Trump, then-VP Pence, or former Sen. Jeff Sessions. Obama denigrated many when calling Republicans “bitter clingers” referencing Christians and 2nd amendment supporters.
While I did vote for him for his policies and certainly not for his personality, Donald Trump is guilty of incendiary blather way too much and I find it despicable as well. And I’ve called him out on it. He’s his own worst enemy. While there is some for sure, I really don’t see much vitriol coming from other conservative leaders like I see from many on the left. I see none of it at the local level.
Mr. Chamberlain stated “When we vilify whole groups of people because we don’t like what they say, believe or like; we’ve lost community.” I agree. A two-way street, but most of its traffic is coming from one direction.
George R. Coutré Colchester, IL
